Foreign Affairs Committee on Nov. 4th, 2025

[Rebecca Netley]

Well, it's not for me to comment on that. I would say, based on the assessment of Israel as a democratic state, that yes, it is capable of doing so.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Did GAC advise the Prime Minister on the principle of complementarity in the context of the Prime Minister's statement about the arrest warrant?

[Rebecca Netley]

We didn't advise the Prime Minister recently, but we have briefed officials up to the minister's office, including the Prime Minister's Office on complementarity and how that operates in the context of international criminal tribunals.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

In that context—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you. I'm sorry, but we're out of time.

We're going next to MP Mona Fortier.

You have five minutes.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to thank the witnesses for being here today to give us an update on Canada's efforts to address this crisis.

From the start of the crisis, Canada has been clear that the parties to the conflict have to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. Canada is exploring ways to help scale up humanitarian aid, support stabilization efforts and help Palestinians recover from two years of devastating conflict.

Canada remains firmly committed to Israel's right to exist in peace and security, while recognizing that a lasting peace also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state that fully recognizes Israel's inalienable right to security and peace.

There was a question earlier about humanitarian aid, and there wasn't a chance to answer, so I'm going to come back to that.

Canada has pledged to donate over $400 million in international aid.

Can you give us an update on that contribution in terms of humanitarian aid?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

It would be my pleasure. Thank you for the question.

As I mentioned, of the $400 million in international aid that has been promised since the start of the profound crisis that began in October 2023, Canada has paid $270 million.

We know that the needs are ongoing, simply because Gaza doesn't have the means to engage in economic activity right now. Very few agricultural activities are taking place. Gaza's people are completely dependent on humanitarian aid for food, care and clean drinking water.

In the medium term, the goal should be to rebuild and rehabilitate the Gaza Strip. Until then, it's important to continue feeding and caring for more than two million people in a territory that's roughly three‑quarters the size of the Island of Montreal.

Our efforts are always based on international humanitarian requests and appeals made by credible international organizations.

In general, those are organizations from the UN system, and we determine our contribution based on Canada's traditional assessed contribution. We always deal with international organizations that know how to use the money we spend on humanitarian aid to maximize its effectiveness. Those organizations have the expertise needed to distribute aid to people in a safe and dignified manner.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, ON]

Let's actually talk about distribution and the major challenge of getting humanitarian aid to where it's needed.

Can you tell us if there has been any progress on that? If so, what progress has been made in delivering humanitarian aid since the ceasefire?

What are the remaining challenges when it comes to distributing humanitarian aid?

What role does Canada play, of course, with its regional partners?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Thank you. That's a great question.

There has been significant progress in terms of not only the delivery of humanitarian aid but also its distribution. We know that the most difficult moments of crisis were when there wasn't enough aid entering the Gaza Strip, as well as periods when distribution networks and distribution points were severely reduced.

Since the peace plan on October 10, there's been a very clear increase in humanitarian aid. Renowned international UN agencies have taken full control and responsibility for humanitarian aid. That means that the volume has increased, since Israel and the Israeli armed forces are letting in a lot more trucks. Distribution points have also increased tenfold.

That inevitably has an impact. The more food and medicine available, the less crime that gets injected into the system. I'm thinking of looting in this case. I'm sorry, it's the English term that comes to mind.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, ON]

I appreciate that. It's looting. Thank you to the interpreters.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Thank you to the interpreters.

Looting occurs when there's a lack of the minimum necessary—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

Next, we'll go to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Lévêque, you talked about reconstruction.

A National Defence spokesperson recently said that Canada was assessing the sectors where we could, in fact, participate in stabilization and reconstruction.

Have those sectors been targeted? Has the assessment been completed in that regard?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Thank you for the question.

Obviously, that's the big question. We have to make sure that we can consolidate the small gains that have been made in the peace process so far.

Sectors are still being assessed. We haven't made up our minds yet, but we're focusing on the traditional sectors that need major investments, given the level of destruction we're seeing here. I'm thinking of basic infrastructure, drinking water and infrastructure to open up routes because, obviously, the roads are largely destroyed right now.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

The towers are as well.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

First and foremost, it's important to demine and to defuse the weapons that haven't yet exploded.

We know that Canada has specific expertise in that kind of project. As a result, there has already been a commitment to collecting debris and demining.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

That's the first area, then, that needs to be addressed as a priority so that it's possible to work on the ground. Demining has to come first.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

That's right.

We're also focusing on sectors related to basic health. Clinics have to be set up again, particularly to care for the most vulnerable: children, pregnant women, people with untreated injuries and so on.

We're also looking at government instruments, governance and the legal system, among other things. All of that is being evaluated at the moment.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Do you work more with the major UN agencies, or do you also work with local non-governmental organizations?

Approximately what is the percentage split between the large UN agencies that Canada works with and the other organizations it works with, if any?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

I don't have a specific percentage for you. It will all depend on the needs observed and on how the international community organizes itself.

What I can say is that all of those elements will be brought to bear. We're always looking for efficiency and the best results possible.

To ensure the delivery of basic services and the reconstruction of basic institutions, we're often speaking with the international organizations that are very well equipped and very experienced. Those could be UN agencies or major development banks, such as the World Bank.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

Next, we have MP Ziad Aboultaif for five minutes.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thanks, Chair, and thank you to the department.

It would be good if we could get some history about Canadian aid to the Palestinian authorities over the last decade. If you could give us a briefing or supply us with those numbers, it would be great.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

It is, indeed, a long association that goes back to the Oslo Accords of over 30 years ago. Maybe, if it's helpful to the committee, we could share some background on this. Ever since, Canada has been deeply involved in a number of key sectors of governance, particularly the legal system and transparency in the service that is delivered to citizens in the West Bank. There's been a little bit of infrastructure, a little bit of technical assistance, and a little bit of civic and democratic development, as well as many programs that encourage private sector development. A lot of training, technical assistance and transferring of knowledge has taken place literally over two or three decades.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

The Prime Minister said that Canada would redouble its efforts to support the Palestinian Authority, to support the government in Palestine, and to contribute to a peaceful and promising future for its people.

What does redoubling mean? Is it of resources, financial resources or human resources? Is it of assistance in bringing democratic reform of some kind? Has Canada been asked to participate in such efforts? I think we have a long-standing experience and history in being able to do that, and I think it would be important.

I'm not sure if you know whether Canada was asked specifically to play this role. What else does Canada's commitment look like in order to assist in the commitment made originally?