Foreign Affairs Committee on Oct. 24th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

You have 42 seconds remaining.

Thank you for that.

We now go to Mr. Zuberi for three minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses for being here. I know that you are representatives from Global Affairs. I'm also aware that you work with other departments.

The question I want to start off with is around evacuations. It relates to who is being evacuated—Canadians, permanent residents and their families.

Are you finding that there are some who are staying back in Lebanon to care for loved ones? They have to make a choice between caring for their loved ones in Lebanon or coming immediately back to Canada. Are you hearing anything around that?

[Sébastien Beaulieu]

The decision to leave Lebanon is a very difficult one for many, and there are various reasons why people decide to remain there.

Our commitment and top priority are to help Canadians return to Canada. That includes permanent residents and extends to their immediate family under the IRPA definition. That's the standard approach we have been using consistently over the years, in various crises.

Thank you.

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

“Immediate family” is defined as spouse and dependent children aged 21 and below. Is that correct?

[Sébastien Beaulieu]

That's correct.

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

Are you finding scenarios in which individuals—Canadians and others who are qualified to take the assisted-departure flights—are choosing not to take those flights because of family members outside of spouses and dependent children under age 21?

[Sébastien Beaulieu]

There are a range of decisions. Anecdotally, some people tell us about extended family or friends they do not want to leave.

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

It's a yes—a parent, for example, or a sibling.

Is that happening?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

It's one of many reasons.

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

What I'm getting at here is this. I understand you're not the Department of Immigration, but when you're in dialogue with immigration officials, is there a plan right now to extend to those who are coming...? Maybe it's a temporary visa to Canada during this conflict, so Canadians can come back here with their loved ones—their parents, for example, or their 25-year-old child.

Is there consideration for this?

[Sébastien Beaulieu]

I'm at Global Affairs. I can't comment on any special immigration measures.

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

Do you think it would help Canadians get out if we did that?

[Sébastien Beaulieu]

That would best be answered by representatives from IRCC.

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

I understand that, given that you're Global Affairs and immigration is elsewhere.

Thank you so much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Mr. Zuberi.

That concludes the questions from the members. However, I want to ask one last question, if I may.

You have shared with us all of the humanitarian assistance Canada is providing. You also touched on the security assistance we're providing. I want to follow up on the question asked by Ms. Diab.

Given the scale of the devastation, and the concern that is quite palpable around this table and indeed across the country, is there anything more we can do diplomatically? Are there any convening powers that we might have or anything we can do to see a de-escalation and make sure the world is there for them?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

What I can say is that we're not leaving anything on the table. We are deploying whatever efforts Canada can deploy regarding both the assistance you referred to and our convening powers through the alliances we've created. We are an increasingly present and loud voice around tables like the G7, the UN and many other subgroupings.

Really, it's about creating momentum.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Is anything being contemplated, or are we focused on considering how we can be of more assistance on the diplomatic front?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

It's nothing that doesn't already exist as part of the tools we're using. That is what I would say.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Okay.

Thank you very much, Monsieur Beaulieu, Monsieur Lévêsque and Madame Crockett.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I have my hand up for after the witnesses have left. It's not to do with this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

We have to go in camera.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Before we go in camera, I would request that we suspend for a few minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Yes. We are suspending in any event because we're going in camera.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

All right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you very much for your testimony. That was very helpful.

The committee stands suspended for five minutes.

[Proceedings continue in camera]