Evidence of meeting #12 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was xinjiang.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Okay.
Very quickly, when you mentioned earlier that we are working with our American counterparts, can you help us understand what form that is taking? If we're not calling it a task force, is there any more formal relationship or information sharing that is going on between Canada and the U.S.?
Director General, International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, Department of Employment and Social Development
CBSA works very closely with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, and I can't speak to the specifics of what information-sharing mechanisms they have in place, but they do have regular, I believe, biweekly conversations that take place. I don't know the specifics of that, because those are enforcement agency discussions that we're not privy to.
I can tell you that we do work closely with our counterparts at the U.S. Department of Labor, who are responsible for more broad-based research on forced labour around the world and examining the risks and likelihood of forced labour from any particular area. We do work closely with them on that information as well.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Thank you very much.
I would just like, Mr. Chair, to put it on the record that we have now heard very important testimony during this committee, including the fact that an ESDC study will be posted very shortly on the Global Affairs Canada website, and of course that Ms. Bachelet will be coming out with a UN report.
I understand that we will have five minutes at the end of this meeting to discuss a work plan. I would like to put on the record that it would be of interest to have a further discussion on this topic once those reports have come out. I hope colleagues around the table would agree to that.
To the officials, then, once again, in light of the changing geopolitical situation in the world and in light of what is going on in Ukraine at the moment, and of course, what we all see as a desire in the west to ensure support for the sanctions that we have put in place, I would like to see if Global Affairs Canada would give us an indication if that has changed or impacted our approach, in this country, to China in any way.
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Thank you for the question.
Yes, indeed, the events in Ukraine, I think, have shaken the world. However, I must add, as the executive director for the China political division at Global Affairs Canada, our work and the priority that the government places on our relationship with China continues on unabated. I would also add that work is continuing on regarding the development and finalization of our Indo-Pacific strategy.
Those two approaches, our evolving China approach as well as our Indo-Pacific framework, will be mutually reinforcing and go a long way, I think, to advance our work in the region.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Ms. Bendayan.
Just before we go to Monsieur Bergeron, I see that Mr. Patry has his hand raised.
Mr. Patry, is there a technical point or just a commentary?
Director General, International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, Department of Employment and Social Development
A technical point, if I may, Mr. Chair....
Director General, International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, Department of Employment and Social Development
I have just one point of clarification.
Ms. Bendayan noted that ESDC has produced a report that Global Affairs will be putting on their website. If I could just clarify, that is not an ESDC study but a study that Global Affairs has commissioned from a different group.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you very much for that point.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Bergeron, you have the floor for two and a half minutes, please.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Given the answers we've been getting from Ms. Chen in the last few minutes, am I to understand that Canada's decision on whether or not to recognize genocide in Xinjiang isn't so much tied to the opinions of countries whose values we share, such as the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Belgium, the Czech Republic and the United States, and that it's essentially based on Ms. Bachelet's report, which is forthcoming?
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Thank you for that question.
I would say that we are taking in all the information available, as well as the views of our partners around the world, and certainly the outcomes of Madam Bachelet's visit. All of these inputs will contribute to the development of ongoing policy work.
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
I understand that what's been done and reported so far by the European Union and the countries I just mentioned is not enough to move forward with a statement to that effect.
Be that as it may, as a result of the report released by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development's Subcommittee on International Human Rights, as well as a vote in the House of Commons, a number of MPs have been banned from the People's Republic of China, including our colleagues Mr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Ms. Heather McPherson and Mr. Michael Chong.
Has the People's Republic of China given any reason for these travel bans? Has the Canadian government protested and responded to these travel bans and, if so, how?
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes, we are aware of the decision of the Government of China to enact restrictions upon the three members of Parliament you've mentioned. That is something that we've been aware of, and those are actions that certainly we oppose.
As you know, it's been a very difficult relationship between Canada and China in recent years. We are currently taking a step-by-step approach regarding Canada-China relations at this time.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Mr. Chair, am I to understand that the Canadian government has not responded?
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
What I can say is that, yes, we are very much aware. We oppose those decisions by the Government of China.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you.
We have Madam McPherson, please, for two and a half minutes.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
What I'm reflecting on as we listen to the testimony today is that all of us recognize that more must be done to help the Uighurs in China, and I think we can all agree that more needs to be done faster. In terms of the legislation, which we know has been in the mandate letter of the minister and which we know will be coming forward—hopefully and potentially soon—I have a quick question, perhaps for Mr. Patry.
We do know that a bill has come forward in the Senate. It is Bill S-211, an act to enact the fighting against forced labour and child labour in supply chains act and to amend the customs tariff. It is about to go to third reading.
I know, Mr. Patry, that you were a witness at the committee that was looking at this. I'm just wondering whether the Government of Canada is considering what is in this legislation for the legislation that they will be bringing forward, and whether or not it makes sense for us to move very quickly to get this Senate legislation put forward, so that we would have at least something in place in the short term while we wait for the minister to bring forward legislation, perhaps at a later date.
Director General, International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, Department of Employment and Social Development
Thank you very much for the question.
I'm sure you would understand if I say that I can't comment on what the government's position may be with regard to that particular private member's bill, but what I can say is that, as we look at developing government legislation on this issue, we are taking into account a range of sources and information and other pieces of either in-place or proposed legislation to better inform how the government's own legislation could be the most effective that it possibly can be.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you.
Very quickly, I have one last question.
We know that the Canadian government has pushed to have the commissioner have the study in May. This is great news. China, though, has yet to ratify the ILO's convention on forced labour, and the ILO has already expressed concern over the labour practices in Xinjiang. Will the government work towards pushing for an independent inquiry led by the ILO into the situation of the Uighur forced labour in China?
Director General, International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, Department of Employment and Social Development
I can answer that, Ms. Chen.
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Go ahead, Mr. Patry.
Director General, International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, Department of Employment and Social Development
I will just say very briefly on that point that we are aware of the ILO's study by their committee of experts on the application of conventions. As you noted, the ILO forced labour convention has not been ratified, which makes it difficult for the ILO to take action through their supervisory system on those particular measures, but we do work very closely with the ILO on all issues related to forced labour, including within China and we do support the ILO supervisory mechanism as an important tool in addressing these issues.