Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 17th, 2022

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

You were reinforcing for us how important it is that countries in the region take the initiative and work something out that is acceptable to all the parties to the civil war. Of the various countries that have been engaged in the continent, which ones are most promising and in your opinion would merit greater Canadian support?

[Tarik Khan]

I mentioned the support that we provide to using a high representative for Ethiopia, former president of Nigeria, Obasanjo. I think that's critical. I think it's critical that we continue to support the work of the African Union in seeking an African solution that is led by an African institution.

The other country that is very important to remember is Kenya. Kenya's leader is a respected leader, and Kenya has a stake, as I mentioned, in being a country that borders the Horn of Africa countries and is affected by instability in those countries. Those are the two that I would single out: the AU as an institution and then Kenya as a country.

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Thank you very much.

That's it, Mr. Chair. I think I have 20 seconds.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

You still have two minutes, if you wish to pass some time to one of your colleagues. If they have a question, they're welcome to come in. If not, that may give some extra time to Mr. Bergeron and Madam McPherson.

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Do either one of you...?

Monsieur Bergeron.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Ehsassi.

Mr. Ehsassi, I must say that you're redeeming Mr. Oliphant. I was just about to say that I took offence at the fact that he didn't offer me some of his time. By giving me a few more seconds, you're redeeming the government party. I really appreciate that. It's very nice of you.

I want to talk about the study published in Foreign Affairs by professors Woldemariam and Cheeseman. Specifically, I want to address the issue of Facebook and Twitter facilitating the spread of hate speech and helping to fuel the atrocities.

I think that this is a very serious concern. As you may know, this committee has looked at and continues to monitor the situation on the border between Ukraine and Russia. We've discussed the fact that, even in countries such as Canada, we aren't immune to propaganda, including through social media.

I want to know your response to this part of the study, which suggests that social media may have contributed to heightened tensions in Ethiopia today.

[Tarik Khan]

Thank you for this comment and for your insightful observation.

Our Prime Minister raised the issue of hate speech in his discussion with Prime Minister Abiy. Anything that involves the weaponization of hate speech is very concerning. This is also the case for propaganda, misinformation, and all the tactics used by a number of countries or communities in conflict. It's a concern in Ethiopia as well. Facebook and other social media are being used to spread falsehoods and unsubstantiated stories.

This type of tactic could be used in Ethiopia to foster hatred among parties in conflict and ethnic communities. This issue, which raises serious concerns, was discussed directly with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Khan.

I want to address the issue of the $7 million for aid delivery on the ground. I'd like to thank your colleague, Mr. Salewicz, for his response regarding this matter. That said, could you explain who is monitoring this, given that the embassy staff has been withdrawn? Who is reporting on the status of the aid, the quantity, the amount, and so on?

Could you tell us who can provide this accountability for the Canadian government, given that the embassy staff is no longer on site?

[Tarik Khan]

I'll talk about the presence of our staff on the ground in Ethiopia. I'll then turn the floor over to my colleague, Mr. Salewicz, so that he can talk about monitoring and accountability when it comes to our humanitarian aid.

First, I want to make it clear that our entire staff wasn't withdrawn from the embassy in Addis Ababa. Only non‑essential diplomats and families were withdrawn. This happened in November and December, when there were concerns that the Tigrayan forces, the TPLF, were getting very close to the capital.

At the end of December, we reviewed the situation and concluded that it was safe enough for the staff and their families to return. That said, our ambassador and a very small team remained at the embassy in Addis Ababa and did all the necessary monitoring.

I'll now let my colleague, Mr. Salewicz, talk about accountability in relation to humanitarian aid.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Mr. Khan, sorry to interrupt you, but your time is up.

We will now turn the floor over to Ms. McPherson and will give her an extra minute as well, just in the interest of fairness.

Please go ahead.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

For my final round of questions, I would like to ask about the COVID response. Of course, we know that Africa in general has very low levels of vaccination. There is very low access to vaccination. I think we've heard from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre that Ethiopia has less than 1.5%. This is, of course, massively compounded by its being a conflict area.

I'm just wondering, first of all, what the impacts of COVID have been in Ethiopia and whether Canada is doing anything to make sure that vaccinations are getting to Ethiopia, particularly the Tigray region. Is there anything you can share on that front?

[Tarik Khan]

First of all, I would say there is a lack of adequate reporting on COVID-related case needs in the conflict-affected areas of Ethiopia. We do not get that information.

Our understanding is that recorded rates of COVID are low, but again in a place where half of the medical infrastructure has been destroyed, it's unlikely that an infected person is going to be able to reach a medical facility and get treatment. The short answer is that we don't know the extent to which COVID is impacting the region, but I think we can assume that it may be the least of their worries given the other health and medical risks caused by lack of humanitarian access.

Regarding the overall response to COVID in areas requiring humanitarian assistance, I'll turn to my colleague, Mr. Salewicz, in case he has anything to add on that.

[Stephen Salewicz]

One thing I'd add is that a humanitarian buffer has been set up through international mechanisms to respond in humanitarian crises. There is a focus within the COVAX facility to direct resources to humanitarian contexts, but I don't have any further information on the situation in Ethiopia.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

So you don't know if vaccinations have been delivered through COVAX to Ethiopia or how much Canada has contributed to that. Do you have any insight on whether or not Canada has contributed anything in terms of PPE or supply chain or any of those things that will help get vaccinations into the arms of folks in addition to the actual vaccinations?

[Stephen Salewicz]

I think from our side we'll have to get that information back to you in written format. I don't have it at my fingertips.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

If you could provide that, it would be very helpful.

I have one last question on COVAX and vaccinations. We've heard some worrying reports that Canada may be using vaccinations to calculate official development assistance. Do you happen to know if that's going to be the case? Will Canada be using vaccinations as part of the calculation to our ODA levels?

[Tarik Khan]

I cannot respond to that question directly, but we can certainly get a response to the committee. Typically, when we support vaccination campaigns and vaccination initiatives as part of overall health programming, it is ODA [Technical difficulty—Editor].

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Of course, with COVID-19 it is a much different scenario. We have heard these reports that as high as $7 per dose would be considered as ODA. This would be really problematic as we try to recover globally from the impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations.

I look forward to the written response. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much for that final question.

Thank you to our witnesses.

Colleagues, we're very close to the end of our scheduled time with our panel today. I would propose, if the committee agrees, that I thank them collectively on our behalf for their service and for their testimony.

We have what I hope are three small points of housekeeping that I hope to discuss with you very shortly so that we can land as close to 5:30 p.m. as possible. It's a Thursday night, and some members may have to travel tonight. I know there are weather challenges.

With the committee's agreement, I will thank the witnesses very much on our behalf.

Thank you for your service and for your presentations.

Questions can be answered in writing, as already suggested by members. I'll let you disconnect while the rest of us stay on for a minute or two, maybe a bit more, to discuss a few points of business.

Thank you so much.

[Tarik Khan]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Colleagues, I have three items that I'll list in the order of how easy I think they are to answer.

The first item is a set of three budgets that were distributed to you last Friday concerning the vaccine equity study, the Taiwan Strait briefing and the appearance of two ministers on mandate letters.

Is there any opposition to approving the budgets as they've been circulated?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Madam Clerk, we've approved those budgets.

Second, as a point of information, we have an opportunity to have an informal meeting with Kelly Clements, the deputy high commissioner of the UNHCR. She is available on March 2 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. We have set this up as an informal meeting. Participation is not mandatory. It would be an open meeting for those members who wish to attend.

For those of you who will attend, please let us know. We will circulate the information in terms of how to connect. It will be a Zoom meeting that would allow anybody to gain access to the conversation, should they wish to. Again, that's on March 2 from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Chair, can you clarify whether that would be any member of the public or any member of Parliament or—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

It would be any member of our committee.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

She has requested a meeting with our committee, but we've done it informally just to make sure members can attend if their schedules allow.