Foreign Affairs Committee on Oct. 1st, 2024

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Thank you for the question.

I'd say it's a little bit of both. For example, in the case of the ICC, Canada did provide $2 million of funding to a trust fund to increase the court's capacity to investigate, in particular, sexual and gender-based crimes, and crimes against children. We've both—

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Is that in Ukraine or is it anywhere in the world?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

It's in Ukraine, for this particular investigation.

The money, if I understand correctly—and I'm not a legal expert—is for bespoke investigations. Countries that are parties to the Rome statute can provide any dedicated support by providing expertise, such as investigators, legal experts or funds.

I believe that in the case of Canada, it's both funding and some bespoke expertise by way of legal experts.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Of course, from the New Democratic perspective, we should be supporting the international justice system. We should be listening to the ICC and the ICJ in all circumstances and not picking and choosing when we apply it and when we do not.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you very much.

We now go to MP Aboultaif. You have four minutes.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

I do also have a very large and important Ukrainian community. The Ukrainian cause is always on our minds—all of us in Canada, and specifically myself.

The relationship between Iran and Russia is known. It strengthened with the signing of the INSTC—the international north-south transport corridor—between the two countries. This is something that Russia has waited for about 94 years to achieve. That is a strategic trade line. It's an access for Russia to warm waters and to international markets through Iran. In return, Iran has been supplying ballistic missiles and drones to Russia.

How significant have those supplies been for the result of the war and for how the war has advanced so far?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

I can't provide a direct equation or an expression of x number of pieces of equipment, whether it's missiles, drones or otherwise, having contributed directly to this.

We know those transactions have taken place. You will have seen G7 members calling this out a couple of weeks ago. This was on the basis of what we, at that point, collectively consider to be solid enough intelligence that suggested an alignment and a support that was material.

This is now a new reality that we're conscious of and that we must call out, denounce and act on. As you know, Canada is one of the countries in the world that has been most forward-leaning in condemning, in sanctioning and even in calling parts of the Iranian government—the IRGC in particular—a terrorist entity.

What I can predict is further pressures and measures in the future, especially by way of sanctions, when we are able to identify with higher levels of certainty which parties in Iran are culpable in having facilitated this sort of commercial arrangement and strategic partnership between the two.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Is there any indication that sanctions against Russia and the listing of the IRGC as a terrorist organization have been already working to somehow impact these two countries' coalition against Ukraine in the course of this war?

How do you believe that Canada has played that role to minimize the impact on the war and on the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian territory?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

This is the existential question when it comes to the effectiveness of sanctions. I've actually testified before this committee before on that very subject.

Sanctions, of course, can work in the short term, but the vast majority of the time, they work in two ways: They work in the long term and they work when they're done in collaboration with as many countries as possible. Sanctions implemented by a single country against an entity or individuals will likely not have a huge impact.

What sanctions have done in the case of Canada versus Iran is that, first of all, they have virtually eliminated all possibilities of large numbers of the Iranian leadership apparatus having any ability to do business and transfer funds to have any economic or financial dealings with Canadian entities.

It has also set a bar. It has sent a message to the world. In that sense, there is an element of leadership and inspiration for other countries that look at it. It may have a bit of a snowball effect, which may encourage others to follow suit.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Does Canada believe that—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

You're out of time.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Now we'll go to MP Alghabra. You have four minutes.

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses.

Mr. Lévêque, if you allow me, I'll take advantage of your presence here and ask you to update this committee on Canada's effort in the evacuations for Canadian citizens in Lebanon.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Obviously, it's not a topic I prepared for with regard to today. My colleagues who are in charge of consular affairs and emergency preparedness are more up to speed on the details.

What I can say is that all contingencies are in place. You will have seen over the past couple of days repeated messages to all Canadians living in Lebanon to expedite their exit. Of course, this is something that the government has been saying for 11 months. We are seeing some uptake on the availability of some of the commercially augmented flights. There's been good uptake on this. This is a situation that we are watching very closely, on an hour-by-hour basis.

What I can say is that contingencies are in place, and we are prepared to offer support where and when possible. However, the key message remains that the situation in Lebanon is extraordinarily volatile right now. This is not just because of the exchange of fire that can happen through missiles, drones, and otherwise, but also because of a certain level of lawlessness and fighting between different factions, particularly over the past few days.

I can also add that we have this thing called the ROCA list, the registration of Canadians abroad list. All Canadians who live in Lebanon and are registered with this get frequent updates by SMS on the status of things. That communication is almost on a daily basis these days.

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I think this is an important moment to remind any Canadians who are still in Lebanon to first register with the mission there, with the Canadian embassy, so that they can receive updates. If they need help, they certainly need to reach out to consular affairs and to heed the government's call in finding a way to leave as quickly as possible.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you. With it now being exactly 12:00—

[A voice]

It's 11:56.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I apologize. I was off by a couple of minutes. I do apologize, but I'd be remiss....

First of all, thank you very much. That concludes our second round of questions. Given that we scheduled it for two hours, I'd be remiss if I did not ask our witnesses if they could possibly stay with us a bit longer for a third round of questions.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

I apologize, Mr. Chair. Unfortunately, I am chairing a meeting in less than an hour back in my department. Had we known, we might have been able to extend a little bit, but we were scheduled for come for one hour. With apologies, we will need to take our leave.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

On that note, allow me to thank you, Mr. Lévêque, Ms. Grant and Ms. Langlois. We are very grateful for your appearance.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Is that good enough? Are we adjourning?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

The meeting stands adjourned.