Foreign Affairs Committee on May 8th, 2024

[Dr. Jason Nickerson]

As I say, we're seeing large gaps in the humanitarian response in North Darfur, where, as mentioned, there's a malnutrition crisis. For example, we find ourselves as essentially the only international organization with a presence on the ground at the moment, despite massive needs.

First of all, there's a need for the political will to scale up a response and to work in what is a very challenging environment. We're not trying to give the impression that it's not difficult, but it is possible to work there, and the needs exist. It certainly needs to be scaled up.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

To what extent is international aid reaching the people rather than the organizations on the ground? How successful have you been in doing that among other organizations, and what's the way around it if we're not able to deliver aid to people directly?

[Dr. Jason Nickerson]

We need to think of this as a regional crisis as well. Certainly, the situation in North Darfur today is quite severe, but so are the needs in eastern Chad, where access is much more straightforward and easier. There's obviously a funding gap, and there needs to be more of a scale-up, but it's very possible to deliver assistance to people in need, particularly, as I say, in eastern Chad.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you.

We next go to MP Vandenbeld. You have three minutes.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you. I wasn't expecting another round.

I would like to go back to the triple nexus question, particularly with regard to being able to pivot from when you're there for development and then a humanitarian crisis happens or being able to change over the years, as with the grants and contributions transformation that GAC is currently doing.

How do you see that helping with the triple nexus but also with the flexibility to respond to the needs on the ground quickly and not be bound by a particular results framework?

I'll start with Ms. Addleton.

[Catriona Addleton]

With respect to the grants and contributions initiative, beyond the UN agencies going into pooled funding, which can be flexible, I think it's really important for organizations to also receive somewhat flexible funding.

I think it also goes down to finding solutions that work across all parties. Perhaps have a contingency fund in a budget that would be specific for an emergency if it were to arise rather than pivoting some of the development funding into the humanitarian crisis—spreading the funding out in a consistent manner rather than having it fluctuate between the two.

I'll leave it at that because I know we're short on time, but maybe you can pass it along to another witness as well.

[Prof. Maxime Allard]

It is important that Global Affairs Canada be flexible in its funding and that it have pre-existing partnerships.

Local civil society is also crucial. We have to build the capacity of partners in each country so that they can deal with peace and security, development and humanitarian aid at the same time.

We can do so in certain fields and certain regions. We can work on preparations and risk reduction, but we need long-term funding.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Nickerson.

[Dr. Jason Nickerson]

I'm not going to comment on the financing aspect of it because I think that's being covered, but I will say that we have some significant concerns about the triple nexus approach as a humanitarian organization. We are able to operate in very difficult situations because of a real and also perceived application of humanitarian principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality.

One of the ways in which we exert that is through a very clear independence in the field. We are there to provide medical humanitarian assistance. We are not involved in peacemaking or state-building—that's not what we do. We have very real concerns about the application of the nexus potentially compromising the safety and security of humanitarian organizations if not employed properly.

That's something that we can follow up with the committee on, but I do not think that it's an important consideration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you.

We next go to MP Bergeron.

You have a minute and a half.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I'll be brief.

Do you think the Government of Canada should get the Government of Quebec more involved in French-language education in African countries?

[Prof. Maxime Allard]

Organizations such as the Fondation Paul Gérin‑Lajoie already engage with the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada. We don't really have a problem with that. We already co-operate with international bodies. I think that Canadian organizations, particularly those in Quebec, are able to make the connection between the two bodies. That is one of the reasons why we favour Canadian organizations over multilateral organizations. We are able to address a number of needs or priorities at the same time.

[Marie-Pierre Nogarède]

In addition, I think that Quebec's expertise in education really should be shared, not only in Canada, but also on the African continent as a whole. I'm thinking, in particular, of the skills-based approach, gender-sensitive instruction, education management, life skills learning and entrepreneurship.

All of these approaches should be shared with Canada.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I just wanted to say that the federal government has the means and that the Government of Quebec has the knowledge in terms of education. Therefore, more can probably be done to better support organizations like yours that focus on education in developing countries.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

We next go to MP McPherson.

You have a minute and a half.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much.

As interesting as this is, I'm going to ask Mr. Nickerson some questions again.

In terms of protection of humanitarian workers, we are seeing the increase on attacks on humanitarian workers around the world. We know how dangerous it is for humanitarian workers in so many different contexts.

Can you talk about the importance of independence? Can you talk about what the Canadian government should be doing to help protect humanitarian workers?

[Dr. Jason Nickerson]

Yes, I'll say a few things.

The first is that I think we have the mechanisms in place, from a legal perspective, to provide clarity around the fact that humanitarians are afforded certain protections under international humanitarian law. I don't think that this is necessarily a new laws kind of question. It's about respect for existing protections.

Canada does speak out when there are attacks against humanitarians. That is helpful. It helps to establish a normative kind of framework and set of expectations. That's valuable, but again, I think this comes down to a question of diplomacy and ensuring that parties to conflicts are receiving clear messages of expectations from the international community through diplomatic means. Again, that's a bit outside our wheelhouse, but it is our expectation that things like international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions are treated as a common good and require the active promotion of the protections that are afforded to humanitarians. That's how we stay safe. That is the framework that we rely on to afford ourselves protections in very difficult circumstances.

I think that continuing to promote that through different platforms that Canada has, including as chair of the Group of Friends of Resolution 2286, which has a clear UN Security Council resolution about exactly this—protection of the medical mission in armed conflict—is something Canada needs to continue to do and to champion.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

We next go to MP Epp.

You have three minutes.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

There have been discussions among the parties with respect to a motion that I put on notice last week. If you seek it, I think you will find consent and support for the following motion.

That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development report to the House the following:

1) That the committee call upon the Government of Canada to implement recommendation number eight of the Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans entitled “Restoring Full Accountability for Resources and Governance of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission”, adopted during the first session of the 44th Parliament, by transferring responsibility for the Great Lakes Commission to Global Affairs Canada: and

2) That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response to recommendation number eight of the Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

Mr. Chair, I think you will find support to adopt this on division.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you.

Mr. Zuberi.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Chair, I have an urge to channel my inner Garnett and filibuster, but I won't do that.

I suggest we do this on division.

(Motion agreed to on division)

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Next, we have Mr. Epp.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll cede the rest of my time for questions to witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you.

For the last question, we'll go to MP Dabrusin. You have three minutes.