Foreign Affairs Committee on Dec. 5th, 2024

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

Okay. Let's look forward a bit and specifically at engaging with our diplomatic footprint, which would, hopefully, lead to enhanced relationships and trade.

Right now, there are 39 countries in the region. We have 48 missions in 25 countries. Is the hope that we become more broadly based or that we focus our efforts in the areas where we can actually have a benefit to both countries, largely starting with trade? I guess that is where I would start.

What is the thought process moving forward? Are we trying to spread ourselves more thinly or, as in our Africa report, are we trying to focus our resources?

[Wendy Drukier]

Mr. Chair, the department regularly looks at our footprint and our representation internationally, including in the region, and of course we want to make the best use of the resources we have to ensure they're addressing and promoting Canadian interests in the region.

We have trade promotion resources, of course, as well as others, including consular programs, our diplomacy program and development assistance. All of those lines of business, as well as the presence of other departments outside of Global Affairs, such as IRCC and others, are taken as a whole in terms of how we determine our presence and the way we spread those resources in the region.

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

Thank you.

The reason I ask that question is that the departmental plan for 2023-24 states, “the department will engage with new and traditional regional partners to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law where they are under threat.”

I don't see trade in there. Are those going to be the three measures where we're going to focus our efforts? Is trade being considered at all?

[Wendy Drukier]

Mr. Chair, of course trade is a very important part of our international programming and our international planning and engagement.

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

Thank you.

You also referenced the upcoming Summit of the Americas, which is going to be in the Dominican Republic. What will be Canada's focus going into that meeting? Other than enhanced trade relationships, what are the other areas we're going to be bringing to that meeting, which I think is our next opportunity?

[Wendy Drukier]

The Summit of the Americas is happening actually a year from now. The Dominican Republic, as host, will put forward some proposed themes for that meeting. We haven't actually received any proposals from the Dominican Republic yet, but we will be watching closely and we will be engaging.

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

I understand that the host country has some latitude, but what's our goal going into it?

[Wendy Drukier]

Mr. Chair, our goal will be along the lines of our broad engagement in the region, so those would be issues such as promoting democracy and promoting inclusive prosperity.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you very much, Ms. Drukier.

For the last question, we will go to Dr. Fry. You have five minutes.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Thank you very much, Chair.

I'm really thrilled that we're doing this study, because I come from one of those countries, a Caribbean country. I want to ensure that as we look at this, we do not necessarily lump the Caribbean—excluding Haiti and Cuba—with Latin America, because many of the Caribbean countries are democratic countries. They have a British parliamentary system because of colonialization by the British. They tend to be quite stable.

There are not many indigenous people in the Caribbean countries. There are in Latin America. I am proud to say that in 2021, Canada was a country that took the rights of indigenous peoples to the Durban conference, and we won it. America was the only country that voted against it. As a result, we had UNDRIP, which was written by a lot of Canadian scholars, such as Willie Littlechild.

I want to know about the progress of indigenous peoples in Latin America. How have they fared? How are they faring?

I also want to talk a little bit about democracy. Has Canada considered working with some of the Caribbean countries—the “British Caribbean” countries—to move forward the agenda on democracy?

Finally, what are we doing on the issue of drugs? The drug trade has taken over the Caribbean countries—even though they're democratic—and Latin America. You were very right when you said that organized crime has actually usurped the role of governance in those countries, being bullies and completely taking over everything.

I know, in my country of Trinidad and Tobago, that Venezuela and Latin America import drugs across that very narrow strip of water, and there are a huge number of drug cartels operating in some of those Caribbean countries. What are you doing about the drug cartels?

[Sylvie Bédard]

The best example I can give you of the work being done with the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, on democratic development in that region is Haiti. We made a commitment to Haiti two years ago, and now we are working closely with CARICOM for the first time. Three former prime ministers of Caribbean countries, known as the three wise men, are actively advising various political actors in Haiti. The goal is to find constructive solutions to the political governance problems that the country is grappling with. The fact that they come from the same region gives them credibility and legitimacy.

In terms of indigenous rights, when I was ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador, Chief Littlechild came to talk about the reconciliation process in Canada, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action, and how they had been addressed by various elements of Canadian society. This is a great model that has been used to inspire certain approaches in Ecuador. That's a concrete example of the kind of work we do with these people.

If I have time to answer the last question, which is about security, I will say that the Latin American region—

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

It's corrupt especially, too, in trafficking in drugs.

[Sylvie Bédard]

Yes, that's correct.

The Latin American region is the largest producer of cocaine and, increasingly, synthetic drugs. We have a whole crime reduction program for the region that involves checking inside containers as well as port and border control. We also work with authorities in the region through Interpol. Our colleagues at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are involved in certain drug-trafficking-related aspects of our defence and security programming in the region.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, how much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

You have 20 seconds.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I cannot ask a question during that time, but I want to say that I'm extremely proud of the role that Canada played in bringing UNDRIP to the United Nations on the rights of indigenous peoples in the new world.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you very much, Dr. Fry.

At this point, on behalf of the entire committee, I'd like to thank you very much, Ms. Drukier and Ms. Bédard. We're very grateful for your time and for your expertise.

As members are aware, we do have committee business.

I will suspend for approximately four to five minutes to allow us to go in camera.

Thank you.

[Proceedings continue in camera]