Foreign Affairs Committee on May 6th, 2024

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Now you're talking about the proportion, which one is more and which one is less. I'll turn to the officials for that. All I know is that UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, and we support them fully in that work. They have an extensive history and network. Who delivered what truck and when, I can't answer. That's too granular. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you very much. Next, we go to Madame Chatel.

You have five minutes.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister Hussen, I would like to welcome you to our committee. We appreciate having you here.

I'll keep talking about the situation in Gaza. Cindy McCain, the director of the World Food Programme, said that northern Gaza is in full‑blown famine. It's unbelievable that the situation has reached this point. I find it appalling that my Conservative colleagues are saying that we should stop funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA. If we did that, hundreds of thousands of people would die.

What more can be done to help? How can this organization's funding provide immediate assistance and help prevent this humanitarian disaster?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

The member brings up a really important point that what we are talking about is life-saving assistance. Literally, hundreds of thousands of people are on the verge of famine. In fact, recently, as the member indicated, the head of the World Food Programme, Cindy McCain, said that in northern Gaza at least, there is a full-blown famine. This is something that a number of respected human rights organizations and humanitarian organizations, I should say, have been warning about for months. It is why we have been calling for unimpeded humanitarian access. It is why Canada, together with like-minded countries, has embarked on the extraordinary effort of launching airdrops. Northern Gaza was not accessible to trucks and to aid workers, so we had to resort to that to do everything that we can, because that's what international humanitarian law calls on countries to do: to do everything that we can to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches people. We have to make sure people have access to life-saving assistance.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you.

Many of my constituents also feel concerned about the situation in Haiti, another disaster. The supplementary estimates provide funding for Canada's response to the crisis in Haiti. How will humanitarian aid help support the people of Haiti in this unprecedented crisis?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

We're deeply concerned about the situation in Haiti and its impact on innocent civilians.

Canada continues to support Haitian‑led solutions to the political crisis and the security and humanitarian situation affecting the country. Canada has always been committed to supporting development in Haiti. It provided $140 million in international aid in 2023, including almost $14 million in humanitarian aid.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you.

Some of the committee witnesses have talked about the climate crisis and its negative impact on people in developing countries. It's quite concerning. There's also talk of climate refugees.

I know that supplementary estimates (C), 2023‑2024, include international funding to fight climate change. How can this assistance help these refugees?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Absolutely. That's another really important question.

On the issue of climate change and the impacts of climate change, the impacts of biodiversity laws, the impacts of plastic pollution, we simply cannot do it alone. We need to collaborate with others. We need to work with others to tackle these challenges head-on, and Canada is doing its part through our feminist international assistance policy. We're contributing to climate adaptation measures by providing resources to developing countries to implement climate adaptation measures. Through the Global Environment Facility, we've contributed to efforts to fight biodiversity loss and plastic pollution.

All of these things are beneficial to Canada as well, because, if that plastic is not tackled at the source, it will wash up in Canada. We all rely on biodiversity for our medication and other benefits, and we're working with like-minded countries and communities around the world to tackle these issues on the front lines.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you. We'll go to Mr. Bergeron.

You have two and a half minutes.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister Hussen, thank you again for joining us.

I'll pick up on the question asked by my colleague, Ms. Chatel. We learned that an investment of $28.3 million was earmarked in supplementary estimates (C), 2023‑2024, for Haiti. However, according to Global Affairs Canada's departmental plan for 2024‑25, this funding ended on March 31, 2024. How much money has been invested so far, and why hasn't this funding been increased?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I'll turn to the officials for this question, Mr. Chair.

[Shirley Carruthers, Chief Financial Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development]

I don't have the exact number we've invested.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Can you provide an answer later?

[Shirley Carruthers]

Yes.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Good.

We know that, two years ago, Canada helped replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. We know that another replenishment is on the horizon. The situation is the same for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Are we expected to step up and replenish the fund and the initiative?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

On the global fund question, Mr. Chair, I'll again turn to the officials for the specific numbers.

[Christopher MacLennan]

If I understood the question correctly, you're talking about the next allocation of funding. For a number of years, the Government of Canada has provided annual support for both initiatives.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

I gather that we can expect to step up to the plate again.

[Christopher MacLennan]

We'll certainly step up to the plate. However, as noted, in both cases we must wait for the organizations to launch what is known as the replenishment of funds.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

So you're telling us to stay tuned.

[Christopher MacLennan]

Stay tuned.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you.

We will go to Madam McPherson. You have two and a half minutes.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I wanted to follow up on one of the questions I asked that the officials answer with regard to Bill C-41, that clarification on the funds that have been sent to Afghanistan since Bill C-41 was enacted. Please clarify when you submit that back to the committee whether those organizations are Canadian or whether those organizations are multilateral organizations. Thank you.

Then, I would also go back to the minister.

I know I threw a lot at you, Minister, right before I ran out of time, but I would like to ask the question again. Can you please state that a Liberal government would not accept any solution to rebuilding Gaza that denies the right of Gazans to return to their land?