Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 14th, 2023

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

Thank you, Mr. Salewicz and your colleagues, for being here today.

I'd also like to thank you and recognize that we as a country stood up to really be there for the Turkish and Syrian people in this moment of dire need. That is critically important, not only for humanitarian purposes but also to create stability within the region so that we do not have internal or global refugee migration problems and crises.

I was happy to hear about the matching funds. I won't pick up on the same questions that my colleagues from the party opposite mentioned, but with regard to those concerns around matching funds and extending that beyond the Red Cross, I've been hearing that from stakeholders in Canada and I'm just passing it to you also. That was also an issue that was noted during the Pakistan flood relief. Many organizations, NGOs and relief organizations were also asking why they weren't included in the Humanitarian Coalition's matching funds. You could be mindful of that into the future to find a way around that.

I've also been hearing from stakeholders around this question. Are any funds we are giving from Canada going to the Syrian government or affiliates of the government? Do you have any knowledge about that? Can you shed light on that particular concern?

[Stephen Salewicz]

Of course.

I can assure you that our assistance is directed through NGOs, Red Cross and UN organizations that aren't affiliated with the government. Our funds go into the hands of humanitarian partners. None of it goes to the government.

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

Given that the area in Turkey is predominantly populated by Kurds, are the funds and resources that are being delivered to Turkey being properly distributed to those in need within Turkey, including the Kurdish population?

[Stephen Salewicz]

The situation is very fluid on the ground, of course. There's a lot of information and a lot of movement at this point in time.

What we know is that there are also a lot of Syrian refugees who are in this area as well. Our understanding from early reports is that aid is being distributed to all those in need without recourse to ethnicity.

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

We know that both Syria and Turkey have a lot of displaced people, people who are undocumented. Are they getting equal amounts of relief to those who are documented within Turkey and Syria?

[Stephen Salewicz]

Looking at Turkey, we've seen over the years that they've welcomed a large number of Syrians and others displaced. In the reporting that we've received so far, and of course it's still early days, what we hear is that assistance is being distributed evenly according to need, not according to ethnicity.

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

Within Turkey, we know that it has a large migrant population who are undocumented. Are efforts being done to ensure that those who are undocumented are also getting equal treatment?

[Stephen Salewicz]

I could speak for the partners we work with and within the international humanitarian system, and the work they do is guided by humanitarian principles. Primary to that is that anyone in need receives assistance, no matter their background or whether they have documentation or not. It's an allocation of resources based on needs.

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

We know about the number of deaths reaching approximately 30,000, if I'm correct. In terms of those who are impacted, we know that cities have been levelled. They will not be rebuilt. Some cities within Turkey will not be rebuilt.

Can you tell us how many people have been impacted by these earthquakes beyond the deaths? How many have been impacted?

[Stephen Salewicz]

The current count I have, the most recent count, is that 21 million people have been affected across both countries. It's an enormous number, and many of them are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

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

How long will it take for them to restore their full lives? How many resources will be needed?

[Stephen Salewicz]

That is a question I can't answer.

To be honest, there will be studies, as there have been after other events of this nature. The World Bank and others will have to do assessments, working with the governments, to determine how best to reconstruct and what that total value will be. It will be enormous, I imagine.

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

Again, thank you for the work you are doing and for stepping up.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

We will now go to MP Bergeron.

You have five minutes.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to thank all of the witnesses for being here this morning and for all of the work that they do in support of those who are suffering on the ground in Turkey and Syria. Although our comments may sometimes seem critical, please know that we acknowledge the work you do in the interest of those who are suffering, and for that, we are eternally grateful to you.

I'd like to quickly address the issue of matching donations. I think my colleagues have already adequately communicated to you the concerns we keep hearing about the organizations that can benefit from these matching donations, so I won't get into that again.

What I get from your presentation is that, in addition to the matching fund, there are also funds going to various NGOs helping the victims on the ground, in Turkey as well as in Syria. I'd appreciate it if you could confirm that for me.

Furthermore, the matching program is capped at $10 million. How were the ceiling and contribution deadline determined? Personally, I feel like the deadline might be a little tight, but I suppose there's a reason for that. Would you be able to shed some light on that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Mr. Salewicz, before you do respond, could I just ask that you lean into your microphone? The technicians have advised that the interpreters are having a hard time hearing you. If you could do that, it would be much appreciated.

[Stephen Salewicz]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you for the series of questions.

Just to confirm, we already have been funding a series of partners in Syria beyond the Red Cross movement for an extended period of time. They are delivering assistance and are members of the Humanitarian Coalition. We have strong partnerships already in place.

Why is it $10 million? It's a question we have faced in the past. We used to work through something we called a relief fund. This relief fund was open-ended. There was no limit to the amount of funding that would be provided. It was up to the generosity of Canadians.

The challenge with that kind of open-ended approach is that we don't have the fiscal resources within our own budget to manage that, so it takes a long time. We need to secure the resources. It's open-ended and the final requirements are uncertain. It was also open to a large membership of actors that could apply for the funding. As a result, it would take us a tremendous amount of time—much longer than we thought was useful and, more importantly, responsible—to respond in a rapid manner to these emergencies. By putting it at a level of $10 million, I can fund it through the budget that I have for humanitarian assistance.

The date limit is something we've learned from our partners. Indeed through their own interactions with us, they have indicated a shorter limit because the money usually comes in early or right at the end. In between, not a lot happens, so they feel like the shorter period actually gives a focused target to the giving. It allows us to effectively respond quickly, so we can release the monies to our partners.

Maybe just to give you some example of the timing for previous relief funds, we had one in Pakistan for previous flooding. It took 200 days to get the money out. With this last flood in Pakistan, it took 30 days. We have an extremely fast tool at our disposal that allows us to respond.

I'd just like to remind, Chair, that it's one tool among many. We have a broad group of tools. We're releasing relief supplies tomorrow. They are flying out from Dubai. It includes 10,000 blankets, enough hygiene kits for 2,000 families or 10,000 individuals, and other items as well. We have a broad range of tools. The matching fund is one that we think is important for public engagement, but again, it's just one of those tools.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

We are almost out of time, Mr. Bergeron. Thank you.

We now go to MP McPherson.

You have the floor for five minutes.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank all the officials for being here today and sharing this information with us.

I do have one quick thing that I'd like to read into the record, a notice of motion that was sent out to all members yesterday, I believe. I move:

That the committee report the following to the House: The committee calls on the Government of Canada, without delay, to amend sections of the Criminal Code currently preventing Canadian humanitarian organizations from delivering aid in Afghanistan and similar contexts without fear of prosecution.

I just want to make sure that I have moved that into the record. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to start with the Humanitarian Coalition. I think it's very clear. We've heard from members from all parties now that they all support the Humanitarian Coalition receiving these funds and being part of the matching fund.

I understand what the witnesses have told us with regard to the decision being made, but now knowing that there is cross-party support, knowing that there is very clear proof that the Humanitarian Coalition has members on the ground who are able to do this work.... Of course the matching fund is vitally important for their efforts to fundraise for Turkey and Syria.

Will the Government of Canada be considering changing the matching fund to include the Humanitarian Coalition?

[Stephen Salewicz]

Thank you.

As always when I approach these committees, I welcome the advice and guidance from members of the committee. As discussed, we always take these issues and these ideas back with us, and that's what we'll do.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

When I asked the minister in the House of Commons during question period whether or not he would be considering adding the Humanitarian Coalition to this matching fund, he did say that all things were being reviewed and that this was the start not the finish. Certainly, I would hope that you would take the information you've received from all members of this committee and seriously consider adding the Humanitarian Coalition. I think it's a missed opportunity when we don't have organizations with such expertise that are already on the ground able to increase the impacts that generous Canadians have asked for.

The next question I have is a little bit around the funding that will be required by Turkey and Syria in the long term. We know, of course, that there is the emergency response after a horrific event like this. We know there's the humanitarian aid, but there will be a need for much more and on a much longer term commitment. We do know that the UN just this morning launched a $400-million appeal for earthquake victims in Syria.

I'm just wondering what Canada's stance is. Will we be committing our fair share to that?

[Stephen Salewicz]

Thank you for the question.

Indeed, we've been looking forward to the release of that UN appeal for Syria. We're anticipating more information in the coming days regarding what more can be done for Turkey as well in that regard. Indeed, we're putting in place...and I think the ministers have already indicated all options are on the table. We are looking closely at how we can increase that support in the coming days to do our fair share, as you suggest.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

Obviously this is something that Canada needs to do. We have an obligation to do our fair share, but it is something of course that is worrying for the sector when we don't get a clear indication from Global Affairs Canada and from the minister that this would be in fact new money.

Can we expect this to be new money, not money that is taken away from other extremely important development projects, extremely important humanitarian contexts?

[Stephen Salewicz]

I can't say whether that's the case or not, but that's our intention. We'll have to see.

The budget right now is going to come from the humanitarian budget.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

You can't tell us whether or not, in the upcoming budget, we can expect to see an increase to obviously respond to what's happening in Turkey and Syria in a context where we clearly will have to respond to crises around the world as well, crises that have been exacerbated because of COVID-19, because of the conflict in Ukraine, because of the food insecurity that is happening across the globe.