Evidence of meeting #23 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 russia.
A recording is available from Parliament.
2:20 p.m.
Conservative
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
May I have the chair back, Mr. Bergeron?
Thank you very much, Mr. Bergeron.
Mr. Zuberi, you have the floor for five minutes.
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Thank you.
Thank you to the ministers for being here today.
I'd like to first put forth a question to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
We've been hearing a lot of rhetoric from opposition members about what's been happening with respect to the turbines and the Ukrainian government.
Has this recent incident caused any true strain in the relationship between the Ukrainian governments and us?
Could you please give your comments on this?
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
I think we've been actively engaged with the Ukrainian government.
2:20 p.m.
Conservative
2:20 p.m.
The Clerk
It's good now.
2:20 p.m.
The Clerk
Yes, thank you.
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Of course, we've had many conversations with the Ukrainian government, and there is a very open channel of communication.
I speak to the chief of staff to President Zelenskyy, Andriy Yermak, very often. I also speak with my counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign affairs minister. As you also saw, the Prime Minister has had many conversations with President Zelenskyy.
Of course, this was a very difficult decision. Some of you have heard that, and I've said it many times. I truly feel it and believe it because Jonathan and I spent spent a lot of time on this issue.
That being said, we announced something very important today, which is the resumption of Operation Unifier with 225 CAF members going to train Ukrainians as they're fighting a very existential war.
We will continue to have strong sanctions and to make sure that we send heavy artillery. We also want to be there with humanitarian aid and to provide the right support to Ukrainians in these difficult times.
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Thank you.
I'd like to ask you a second question.
You mentioned the importance of keeping the alliance together in response to the Russian invasion.
Can you talk about the challenges you foresee as we enter a new phase of the war?
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC
Thank you for the question, Mr. Zuberi.
I think we have to make sure that there is no fatigue in terms of supporting Ukraine during this war.
We already know that the news about Ukraine is still important, but it is not as important as it was at the beginning of the war. There are other issues we have to deal with. So we need to make sure that Canadians are still interested in this issue and that they stay informed. The same is true for citizens of other countries, whether they are Americans, Germans, French or English. It is important that there be strong support within our democracies.
We will continue to work with Ukrainian organizations. I would like to welcome Ms. Chyczij, who is with us today. We will continue to work with the various regional organizations as well, and of course we will be there to support them.
As I mentioned earlier, there may be further sanctions and assistance announced shortly. We continue to provide our support.
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Thank you, Madam Minister.
Minister Wilkinson, given the current situation in Europe and Canada's standing as a net energy exporter, with regard to our providing energy to become the energy provider of choice to Europe, what are we doing either unilaterally or with America to position ourselves as such?
2:20 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Certainly, Canada is looking to ensure that we are participating in helping our European friends as they transition off Russian oil and gas. I spoke earlier about the incremental 300,000 barrels of oil and gas that we committed to work with the industry to ensure that that is achieved by the end of the year, and we are on track to do that. We are working on LNG opportunities on the east coast, and we have a couple of opportunities on the west coast that will also help with increasing supply in the world.
We're also very focused on hydrogen, which is going to be the energy carrier of the future as we move to transition to address the climate issue while ensuring that we actually have reliable sources of energy. Canada is blessed with the opportunity to produce hydrogen in different kinds of ways—derived from natural gas, derived from electricity and electrolysis—in a manner that we can be a hydrogen superpower to the world as we move forward. We are looking at all of those things, the short-term opportunities to assist and the longer-term opportunities to be a dominant player on a go-forward basis.
2:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Marty Morantz
Thank you, Minister.
It looks like we have time for one more five-minute session.
Mr. Genuis, you have the floor.
2:25 p.m.
Bloc
August 4th, 2022 / 2:25 p.m.
Green
2:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Marty Morantz
Thank you, Mr. Bergeron.
This is the advice I've received from the clerk. Perhaps the clerk could clarify.
