Evidence of meeting #34 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 pakistan.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:10 p.m.
Cam Do Director General, Innovative and Climate Finance Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Good afternoon, Chair.
Yes, there is a $300-million targeted program for women-led organizations as well as a $15-million initiative for indigenous organizations.
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you.
Could you provide written details on how that's been spent or distributed to date?
4:15 p.m.
Director General, Innovative and Climate Finance Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Yes.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
We will now proceed to the second round.
Mr. Genuis, you're up first. You have five minutes.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Chair.
Just as a brief follow-up on the issue of Afghanistan, I agree that there is an urgent need for legislative or policy change to address this issue to allow Canadian organizations to be involved in the humanitarian effort. The perversity of the current situation, I think, is that the Canadian government ends up funding international organizations that aren't subject to the same strictures, while Canadian organizations face limitations.
Could you give us a timeline of when we can expect the results of that work, allegedly being done, to be made public?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Unfortunately, Mr. Chair, I can't give a timeline for it. Obviously, my colleagues are working on it.
This is one the reasons that, when any legislation is put forward.... When the previous government put this in, it wasn't taken into account to take a look at this. No one anticipated that the Taliban would have come back into power. This is one of the reasons that now my colleagues are making sure that once the legislation goes in, you look at all aspects of things so you don't get into another situation—
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Minister. I was hoping to get a timeline. I'm sorry that we don't have that available.
Minister, the floods underlined the fact that Pakistan and other developing countries in Asia have a great need for infrastructure. There are various ways that we can respond to it. The Government of Canada has about $400 million in the Chinese state-controlled Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The Chinese government seeks to have significant influence in Pakistan. This bank is part of the belt and road initiative and uses infrastructure as a tool for increasing Chinese state influence.
When it comes to our efforts to support reconstruction in Pakistan, why is the government continuing to have money in this Chinese state-controlled development bank? Why not instead fund those efforts directly or through independent organizations that share our political values?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Mr. Chair, when it comes to infrastructure or supporting any countries, we'll look at all options. We'll look at all options of where we can provide support. We're going to be looking...whether it's any development banks, from bilateral support to multilaterals. We're looking at any options we can to make sure we provide support.
When it comes to providing humanitarian support to the most vulnerable, my thing in coming into this role was that we want to stay focused on the people and put the geopolitical dynamics out of this.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Why are Canadian dollars still in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, though, given the impact on real people that the extension of Chinese state neocolonialism has on those people?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Mr. Chair, right now, in terms of Pakistan, we are focused on real people and the most vulnerable. We'll continue to support them.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I don't think that's an answer, but the record will show the exchange. People can conclude what they like from it.
In the past I have raised with you concerns about corruption and sexual exploitation at the World Health Organization. You said at other points that you had raised that issue with WHO leadership, but you couldn't point to any specific steps. It's been, I think, a couple of years since we last had that exchange. Obviously, the WHO is operating in Pakistan and many other places. Further scandals have come out since around corruption in Syria, with further revelations around sexual abuse in DRC and other places.
What further steps have you taken to hold the WHO accountable for corruption and sexual exploitation? What is the point at which this goes beyond simply raising verbal concerns?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Mr. Chair, it's not only about raising concerns with the WHO but with any organizations. We stay steadfast.
As you know, our feminist international assistance policy is focused on women, on everything from sexual reproductive health all the way to making sure that there's women entrepreneurship. In fact, I've seen—
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Minister, I am going to jump in there. I want you to just maybe address very specifically the issues of the WHO. What are you going to do to hold the WHO accountable?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Mr. Chair, I think it's important that, since we're talking about Pakistan, I'll share an example of how important that work is. I'll give you the example of the polio teams that go out. This is probably one of the most important things I learned there. They're made up of women going into some rural areas, including dealing with violence—
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Minister, what are you going to do to hold the WHO accountable?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Okay: You've got to hear me out in terms of how we're making a change in many different—
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I answered your question regarding the WHO and what we're doing in many other organizations. You also want to hear about the work we're doing in Pakistan at the grassroots level for supporting women.