Foreign Affairs Committee on March 3rd, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much, Mr. Aboultaif.

Thank you to Mr. MacDougall and Ms. McCardell for your answers.

We will now go to Mr. Ehsassi, please, for five minutes.

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll start with Mr. MacDougall.

Mr. MacDougall, we heard from the minister regarding Canada's leadership on COVID. As you can appreciate, this is an issue that is of tremendous importance to Canadians. I have heard members of Parliament repeatedly talk about how important it is that we be there for other countries.

I know we're going through multilateral channels as well as assisting on a bilateral basis. Could you perhaps share with us whether we are playing a leadership role and whether we are one of the most generous countries insofar as assisting other countries as concerns COVID?

[Peter MacDougall]

Yes, I think I can say quite categorically that Canada has been an extremely generous international assistance donor on COVID. Since the start of the pandemic we've committed $2.7 billion in assistance, the vast majority of that through what we call the ACT-A platform, which is for vaccines, therapeutics and testing.

In looking at the issue of vaccine equity, the government committed to provide 200 million vaccines via COVAX by the end of 2022 as part of the G20's overall commitment to vaccinate 70% of the world by the end of 2022. We have so far made available 137 million doses to COVAX. The remainder will come either through a cash commitment by the Government of Canada or through surplus Canadian doses.

Yes, it's safe to say that we have had a very strong leadership role. Thank you.

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Thank you very much for that comprehensive response.

If I could once again ask Ms. McCardell a question, as you will recall, the last time you were before our committee I shared with you my concern that there are going to be numerous reverberations throughout the world from the situation in Ukraine, given the reality that Ukraine was a breadbasket in Europe and was sending agricultural exports to very many countries, amongst them some that are going through a very difficult time, such as Lebanon. Once again I just want to know whether we are following developments closely and how that will impact our international assistance and our humanitarian assistance, not only to Ukraine itself—which is obviously critical—but to other countries that are going to be hit very hard.

[Sandra McCardell]

Clearly the situation in much of the Middle East remains precarious as a result of political instability, COVID and other economic measures. Clearly these countries are going to be vulnerable to increased food costs, as are other parts of the world that depend particularly on wheat as their main source of calories in their diets.

We are following this closely. You will know that we are a very generous donor to Lebanon and have development and humanitarian funds there. We're sensitive to the economic collapse in that country and are using those funds to address that.

My colleague Peter MacDougall leads on the humanitarian side. We are in contact about the need to have recourse to agencies like the World Food Programme or FAO to address food security. We are watching this very closely and, quite frankly, with a great deal of concern, particularly when combined with rising energy prices.

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Thank you very much.

Mr. MacDougall, since Ms. McCardell referenced you, is there anything you want to add to that?

[Peter MacDougall]

I'll just say that we are in ongoing dialogue and discussion. It's an issue that we follow very closely. The consequences obviously could be quite dire in the other regions you and Sandra have mentioned.

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Thank you very much.

This is my last question, given the time that remains. We certainly appreciate the significance of developments in Ukraine. We are attempting, as a country, to be there, to punch above our weight.

Given the financial assistance we've provided, has any of that gone to any of the neighbouring countries that have been very generous in terms of letting in people who are fleeing from Ukraine? I just want you to pinpoint whether some of that funding has gone to neighbouring countries to assist refugees.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Give just a brief answer, please, in the interest of time.

[Peter MacDougall]

The appeal that I mentioned, the UN appeal.... I forget the exact numbers, but I will say that about $1.3 billion of that was for Ukraine, and the remainder was for the surrounding four or five immediate border countries. A portion of Canadian funding will be going to support the UNHCR and other UN actors to support refugees in those countries to take some of the pressure off Poland, Moldova, etc.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much, Mr. Ehsassi.

Mr. Bergeron, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. MacDougall, I'm very sorry, but I'm not sure I understood your answer regarding Haiti, which I was very interested in.

You mentioned AstraZeneca, then came back to mRNA vaccines, and you said that Haiti was included, but what was Haiti included in?

[Peter MacDougall]

In September this year, there was a surplus of AstraZeneca vaccine in Canada with an expiry date around December. So it was important to offer these 760 or so doses. We asked countries fairly close to Canada, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, if they needed vaccine and they seemed interested.

In these circumstances, these countries—I have forgotten the exact list—accepted these doses. However, for a capacity reason, as I recall, Haiti was not in a position at that time to accept these surpluses.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

That was for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

[Peter MacDougall]

Yes.

Since then, I think, Haiti did receive those doses through COVAX, which Canada is supporting with nearly $700 million. I don't know the numbers, but I could provide them to you.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

That's kind. I would really appreciate it.

I also raised a specific concern for Palestine, which has had problems accessing vaccines for very obvious reasons, as well as Taiwan, which is in a situation that is somewhat analogous because of pressure from the People's Republic of China.

Has something been done for Palestine and Taiwan?

[Peter MacDougall]

I will check, but yes, I believe that Palestine and Taiwan are also entitled to receive doses through COVAX.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Do you know if they received any?

[Peter MacDougall]

I'm sure of it.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Could you confirm that for me as well?

[Peter MacDougall]

Yes, and I will provide you with the numbers.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

I would be very grateful to you for that.

Thank you, Mr. MacDougall.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Mr. Bergeron, your time is up. You will very likely be able to follow up during the next turn.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Has it already been six minutes?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

No. For the third turn, speaking times are two and a half minutes. For the second, third and fourth turns, these rounds are always two and half minutes.