Foreign Affairs Committee on Nov. 27th, 2025

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you.

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

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, if I'm summarizing Canada's new foreign policy correctly, we're moving closer to China, although in the House of Commons we've recognized that Uyghurs are currently the target of a genocide perpetrated by the Chinese political regime.

We're forming closer ties with the United Arab Emirates by signing lucrative contracts worth $70 billion, even though reports mention and we know that the UAE is currently funding armed groups in Sudan — the Rapid Support Forces — which are committing acts of genocide.

Are you listening to me, Minister?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

Yes.

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

Furthermore, Canada is reducing its international aid by $2.7 billion over four years, even though it has just extended $100 billion in tax credits to oil companies until 2040.

How can you honestly tell us that Canada is a leader in human rights and that it's making a difference in the world, when it puts its chequebook ahead of its values?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

Thank you for your question.

This question gives me an opportunity to mention how our foreign policy incorporates every necessary component.

My job is to leverage Canada's diplomatic and strategic relations for the good of all Canadians, including people concerned about human rights and people who need Canada to have a functioning economy. It's a way of combining priorities, and something we can do.

Right now, different forces are attacking our multilateral institutions—

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

Thank you, Minister. I think you've answered the question.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

They are also attacking our values. We're going to respond to their attacks.

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

If you had been in Brian Mulroney's shoes, you would have signed contracts with the apartheid regime. That's what you would have done, because that's exactly what you're doing when you say that you're bringing up human rights issues while at the same time doing business with these countries.

I have not seen any improvements on the issues of women's rights, ethnic minorities in China or LGBTQ individuals in those countries with which you have signed lucrative contracts.

Based on your current performance, you would have done business with South Africa during the apartheid era. Mr. Mulroney stopped the contracts, but you would have signed them outright.

[The Acting Chair, Liberal, Anita Vandenbeld]

We're out of time, so give a very quick answer.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

I completely disagree with my colleague.

We are not compromising on human rights when we sign contracts. That's not the case. We continue to stress the importance of our values, human rights and feminism in our foreign affairs policy.

[The Acting Chair, Liberal, Anita Vandenbeld]

Thank you.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

We take into consideration what Canadians want. Canadians have told us that we need to build Canada's economy, especially during these challenging economic times.

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

You're right.

Thank you.

[The Acting Chair, Liberal, Anita Vandenbeld]

Thank you.

We now go to Ms. Rood for five minutes.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Minister, thank you for being here today.

Around the world, from Nigeria's middle belt to parts of the Middle East, Christians are being killed, kidnapped and driven from their homes.

What concrete actions has Canada taken this year to protect threatened Christian communities, and what measurable results can you point to?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

Canada is aware of and closely monitoring reports that the United States is considering actions against Islamist militants in Nigeria.

We recognize that violence is unacceptable and that it is the result of terrorist or criminal acts. That is the case in Nigeria, and it affects the entire population.

Last weekend, I had a conversation with my Nigerian counterpart, Minister Youssef Tougar. I told him that Canada will always stand up for human rights and for the people who suffer from this violence.

We stand for religious freedom. We are monitoring the situation closely. I have spoken with my Nigerian counterpart about this, and we are remaining in close touch.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Minister, witnesses told Parliament and the subcommittee on human rights that impunity and weak early warning systems fuel the violence against Christians.

Will the government commit to funding faith-based partners on the ground for rapid warnings, trauma care and safe return programs, expand religious freedom expertise and training for our diplomats, and work with an allied effort to trace and choke financing from militias?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

To begin, in communities worldwide, Canada closely monitors instances of hatred and intolerance toward faith and belief. We oppose all religious hatred, discrimination and xenophobia wherever they occur, and we support peace and security efforts in Nigeria and wherever they occur.

In terms of the work that the department is doing at Global Affairs Canada, since 2019, Canada has invested $23 million in Nigeria through its counterterrorism capacity-building program to address the root causes of violent extremism. We've been working on strengthening resilience against radicalization, and we have supported judicial capacity in terrorism prosecutions.

All Nigerians deserve to live in safety and security. That is why, in addition to the program I just mentioned, we have a peace and stabilization operations program of approximately $2 million that is supporting projects throughout Nigeria, and we have allocated $10.7 million under the weapons threat reduction program to counter chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear proliferation. We also have bilateral development programming that aims to reduce extreme poverty. This program amounted to about $16.5 million in 2023-24.

I will just say in response to the questions about Nigeria that we are there with different forms of aid to address not just the issues of violence and counterterrorism but also to address the developmental issues that have been mentioned to us by the Nigerians themselves. We have been there on the ground to support them every step of the way.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Minister, could you table with this committee the measurable results of those things that you just talked about?

On November 24, the Leader of the Opposition asked the House to recognize the genocide in Nigeria and the persecution of Christians around the world.

Minister, do you recognize and condemn the persecution of Christians around the world and the genocide of Christians in Nigeria by fundamentalist groups like Boko Haram, the Fulani militia and the Islamic State West African Province?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

I thank the hon. member for the follow-up question. I want to mention that we will table information as requested, and I have my departmental officials here to do so.

I will reiterate that all Nigerians deserve to live in safety and security, and that will always be at the heart of Canada's foreign policy vis-à-vis Nigeria and every other country. Religious hate is absolutely unacceptable.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Thank you.

[The Acting Chair, Liberal, Anita Vandenbeld]

We will go to Mr. Oliphant.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Minister.

There are four things I want to bring up.

First, you have officials with you, and we don't get to thank them often enough. To the associate deputy minister and the assistant deputy ministers, thank you for the work you do, and thank you to those people behind you and around you who support Canada and the world.

The second thing is just following up on the last question on the freedom of religion or belief. I know we've had some really profound officials working for you, Minister, who are raising those issues. Canada's responses are always coordinated with those of other countries, and that's often through officials, so again to the officials, thanks for that work.

The third point is the consular area. It's not my area of responsibility, but I'll ask about it.

We've had expenditure review. Obviously, every department is facing cutbacks. When most Canadians, average Canadians, interface with Global Affairs, it's because they're travelling in the world, and they're concerned. Can you assure Canadians that consular services will be maintained and that Canadians can travel the world knowing that if they lose their passports, if they need to get a prescription filled, if they end up in jail or if they are the victim of arbitrary detention, this government will have the resources to support them?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville East, ON]

I agree wholeheartedly that the public service, and especially the public service in GAC, has been extraordinary during very difficult times internationally.

The bottom line is that our level of service will not be compromised. Canada's network abroad consists of 181 missions in 112 countries. The mission network is broad, and our top priority is the safety and security of Canadians. We will continue to ensure that wherever Canadians need assistance, our consular services will be engaged and will continue to work toward individual safety and security for the benefit of our country.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

That's perfect. I just want to want to make sure that Canadians know that. They're all watching at home today, so I'm sure they'll be reassured.

The last point is that it seems to me that opposition members are setting up a dichotomy between security, sovereignty and prosperity as overwhelming goals, and human rights, democratic institutions and a rules-based order as the things Canada stands for. To me, they're not dichotomous and are actually totally entwined.

I want to give you a chance to reflect on how our human rights work actually builds prosperity and supports security and sovereignty, and that they're not either/or and are actually blended together. I see that in you, and I want to make sure the committee gets to hear it.