Foreign Affairs Committee on March 3rd, 2022

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

I don't doubt that he would have professed to you that action had been taken. Are you able to advise the committee what action was taken and whether individuals were held accountable for the abuses that were perpetrated? This is over 40 women coming forward, so I assume that it would have been possible to identify perpetrators and specifically hold them accountable for actions that were taken.

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

In fact, it is one of the things we are going to be following up on. We talked about that. When we go to visit—

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

Just to clarify, are you still planning on following up on that?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I had the first meeting with him by virtual. Of course, I will have to follow up on it. Rather than just having that meeting I want to take further action on what was discussed. It's difficult sometimes in a 20-minute meeting to have that follow-up. We want to—

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

Minister, I'm almost out of time, but I just would say could you report—

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I just want to answer your question.

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

Yes. Let me just say could you please share further information with the committee in writing on this because we would like to hear what that follow-up is.

Would you be able to provide further information to the committee in writing? I'm just out of time. It's five minutes.

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Absolutely. We will follow up on this and get the information for you.

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

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much, Mr. Genuis. Thank you, Minister.

Mr. Sarai, please, you have five minutes.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Minister Sajjan.

Minister Sajjan, in Ukraine the situation's pretty dire. There are their own refugees who are fleeing, particularly women and children. There are also thousands of international students who are studying there from India, from Africa and from Latin America.

There have been reports from various news stories, Khalsa Aid and others that a lot of those students are being discriminated against when they are trying to cross to Poland.

Have you been able to talk to your counterparts either at UNHCR or with the Ukrainian officials to make sure they get some safe passage?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I'm glad you raised that. In fact, we spoke with the deputy at UNHCR just yesterday. This is on the end of the Prime Minister and also Minister Joly, who have raised it. I will be sending a much stronger message once I have the opportunity to go into the region.

We have been assured that steps are being taken, but it is very concerning what is taking place. We need to treat everybody equally.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you, Minister.

Minister, you're a decorated soldier. You've had two missions to Afghanistan, and you've actually been directly on the ground in Afghanistan and probably discussed first-hand with Afghans who need support direly.

Can you share with us what you learned from your experience in Afghanistan on what they need humanitarian-wise and how Canada is helping provide that?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

The humanitarian situation on the ground is extremely dire. Food scarcity and food security is a significant issue. I have spoken with David Beasley from the World Food Programme about this. He has actually visited on the ground. He is getting more access into areas where he wasn't able to get before. He was appreciative of Canada's quick response to provide the $56 million.

We are looking at other avenues of earlier support that was going to Afghanistan. Obviously, we will be adjusting that towards humanitarian support. As we do this, we want to make sure that we still send a very strong message of human rights, especially for women and girls.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you.

Minister, the pandemic has shown that as a global community we must come together in a difficult time. The colour of your skin should not determine how long you must wait to receive a life-saving vaccine.

Can you tell this committee how Canada is leading the fight on COVID-19 abroad, particularly in Africa, Latin America and other places where the rate isn't as high yet as in North America?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

We're currently co-chairs with Indonesia and Ethiopia on an organization that represents 92 nations, so that we can come together and listen to what those concerns are. Far too often what I see is that we want to help, but we sometimes do it in our own way.

Canada has been very different, I would say, because we have a very diverse community. We have a better understanding. It doesn't mean that we get it right. The developing world has seen vaccine inequity, and it's something that needs to be addressed.

As we now look at vaccinating the world and working with our partners, we want to look at how, if something were to happen again, this could be done equitably. It is one of the reasons we have invested in South Africa, looking at creating a hub. The World Health Organization is identifying other locations as well. Then we need to work further to look at what the needs will be and how to make sure that those hubs actually turn into a reality and that, if a pandemic were to occur again, the vaccines can roll out far more equitably.

While we also do this and as we make investments, we have an opportunity to reinforce the health systems of those nations as well. Every nation is going to be different. What I am concerned about right now are areas where there is conflict. We're very fortunate that Gavi does have experience working in those areas, whether it's Yemen, Afghanistan or even places like Ethiopia.

That is one concern. We're trying to look at where those problem sites are and which nations have certain skill sets to operate in certain areas, but progress has been made. Now the actual concern is not just the vaccine supply, but the ability to get vaccines into people's arms. That's what we're focused on now.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Mr. Sarai, thank you very much.

Thank you, Minister.

I will now give the floor to Mr. Bergeron for two and half minutes.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It was stated in a press release that as of February 25, more than 13.8 million doses of vaccine were delivered by Canada through the COVAX mechanism. It was also said that through mechanisms that are not fully known, Canada had shared 762,080 doses under bilateral agreements with a number of Latin American and Caribbean countries.

As you know, Mr. Chair, we have expressed particular concern on a number of occasions for countries that are experiencing somewhat unique situations. I am thinking of Palestine, Taiwan and Haiti.

Like Ukraine, many of our fellow citizens are from Haiti and are experiencing a major crisis, as you know. It is one of the poorest countries in the world; it experienced an earthquake and is going through a political crisis. We have given doses to Nicaragua, Argentina, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Barbados, Ecuador, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica on three occasions, but not one dose to Haiti.

Why?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Originally, when we were vaccinating inside Canada, our plan was always to go through COVAX. There were certain times when there was an opportunity to actually deliver doses bilaterally, but the best way to do it is to go through COVAX.

The actual issue is not about supply anymore. In fact when I was at the UN, meeting many of the representatives of the countries, they said it's about understanding the ability to absorb. I believe there has been a vaccine delivery, but I have to get someone who can answer that question.

When it comes to Haiti, as we assessed the situation, they need predictability as well. This is where COVAX becomes very important. I can understand that we want to talk about getting vaccines. From our perspective, we just get it there, but we have missed probably the most important thing, which is the nation's ability to provide it and whether we have a consistent plan to be able to deliver it.

Haiti has said they need far more predictability. Some nations are saying to hold off because they need to set things up. That's where it becomes very important. I actually have spoken directly with the permanent representative from Haiti about this. They were happy with how we were working together on that.

Do we have more time, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

You have just a few seconds, Minister.

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Peter, can you answer that question directly?

[Peter MacDougall]

For the 762,000 you mentioned, that was AstraZeneca. There was a certain shelf life left. We needed to move it bilaterally, quickly. We went to all those countries including Haiti and asked them if they were willing and able to take those doses. The list you read out was the list of countries that were able and willing to take them at that time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much, Mr. Bergeron.

Thank you very much to the minister and witnesses.

Ms. Idlout is next, for two and a half minutes.

Please go ahead.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Qujannamiik.

I'll be asking about Tigray, especially given the siege that was in force against Tigray since June 2021.

The Canadian government has allocated millions in aid money to Ethiopia since the war against Tigray began. What are the instruments or methods that the federal government will be using to ensure that some of the money is going to Tigray?