Foreign Affairs Committee on April 16th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

We go next to MP Michael Chong.

You have five minutes.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Thank you.

I want to ask a bit about this memorandum of understanding that the Government of Canada entered into between the RCMP and China's Ministry of Public Security. My understanding is that this is the only memorandum that hasn't been made public.

Is that correct?

[Weldon Epp]

I would have to check, but I think that could be the case.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Can you speak a bit to the broad terms, since it's not being made public?

There are concerns that people have about this memorandum of understanding, and understandably so, because previously there had been co-operation between the RCMP and Chinese authorities on information sharing to prosecute criminals. The PRC ended up taking that information and persecuting dissidents. Operation Fox Hunt comes to mind.

What is in the memorandum of understanding that ensures that China is not going to use information conveyed to it by the RCMP or other Canadian authorities to target individuals critical of the PRC?

[Weldon Epp]

There are two things I might say in terms of the question. I won't speak to the details of the MOU. I think the RCMP can do so.

The concerns that are raised here are based on experience and concerns that are shared by Canadians and communities that have been targeted for transnational repression. Those are well known to us, and they remain a priority. These are discussions we have regularly.

Just to be clear with the committee, the focus of the next steps in terms of co-operation between the RCMP and the MPS has been very much on trying to move toward a much more practical outcome-oriented conversation on fentanyl, among other things. We are also looking at discussions that get to more practical co-operation on issues of international online scam centres that are supported by international crime.

There are a number of concrete things there, but the premise of the question is understood.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Speaking of practicalities and areas that are the department's responsibility, does it touch on issues like the illegal police stations that were established by the PRC here in Canada over the last several years?

[Weldon Epp]

It doesn't preclude that, but that topic is one that we would expect to be actively pursuing as we stand up the rule-of-law dialogue.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Is that captured by this particular memorandum of understanding, or is that being pursued by the department under a different rubric?

[Weldon Epp]

We will be pursuing issues like police stations, issues that cross the line of foreign interference, through the rule-of-law dialogue that we'll put in place—as, in any case, we have diplomatically.

We have raised those issues at every opportunity. The challenge in the Chinese system is to be raising them with the right interlocutor. I expect we will use all tables, including our channel through the RCMP with the MPS but also a more regular, agenda-setting “public safety senior official to counterpart” rule-of-law dialogue, to touch on issues like the police stations.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

The memorandum partially captures that—

[Weldon Epp]

Again, I'm not going to speak to the details of the MOU, which hasn't been released. I think the RCMP can.

The agenda for us will continue, and the possibility of doing so more directly is now before us.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

I understand your answer. Thank you.

I want to shift back to the government's position that Canada is going to massively increase the export of oil and gas to the Indo-Pacific region.

The Prime Minister last year signed a letter of intent between Canada and Malaysia to increase investment in LNG exports, among other things, to Malaysia. One of Malaysia's largest companies, Petronas is the part owner of LNG Canada. The plan, in phase two, is to double up the B.C. Coastal GasLink pipeline and to double up the ability of that export terminal.

Seeing that this letter of intent has been signed, how involved is the department in working on this issue?

[Weldon Epp]

My answer to the question would be that our department's most active proponent and champion of this is our high commissioner to Kuala Lumpur, Jodi Robinson. She reports to me. We're very actively prioritizing this area of work. It's an area of work that, as you mentioned, Petronas has led, and we're supportive of Petronas's work.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

How does—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

You're out of time. I'm sorry.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

You were over by 30 seconds.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

I'd like to take the next round.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

That is no problem.

Next is MP Mona Fortier.

You have five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As I said earlier, this is an opportunity to have a conversation.

Mr. Epp, I want to talk about one of my favourite aspects of the work I do in my role, the francophonie. With the strategy's review, I think we have an opportunity to make sure that the francophone community plays a bigger role. I say that because the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie just released its report on the state of French around the world, entitled “La langue française dans le monde”.

Did you know that French is now the fourth most spoken language in the world? It used to be number five. According to the report, French is the second most learned foreign language in the world, with some 170 million people learning the language. The report also states that French is the third most popular language in the business and economic sector. It's an asset for building business relationships. I could go on.

Suffice it to say that those three examples show how we can shine a spotlight on the francophone dimension and leverage the opportunities it provides, as we review Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. As we know, the francophonie summit is being held in the Indo-Pacific region this fall, in November, I believe. It's taking place in Cambodia, so that provides an excellent opportunity.

As we know, in Canada, we want to make sure that the francophonie continues to prosper. We are bidding to host the 2028 summit.

What role could the francophonie play in all this? Do you have any thoughts on that?

[Weldon Epp]

I'll answer the question first, but Ms. Samaan may have more to say afterwards.

I think we have a very promising opportunity this year. I believe this is the first time in 20 years that the francophonie summit is being held in Cambodia, in Asia. Canada, Quebec, New Brunswick, France and others will play an important role, to be sure. We especially have an opportunity to promote not just the French language, but also people-to-people ties.

Cambodia's most important bank, its biggest bank, is the National Bank. Our business network in Cambodia has extensive ties to Quebec. The federal government has tools to strengthen the government's role in the financial system. Not long ago, Canada opened an embassy in Cambodia, in Phnom Penh.

I totally agree that we'll have an opportunity this year to leverage our partnership with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and strengthen those voices.

Do you have anything to add, Ms. Samaan?

[Valérie Samaan, Director General, Indo-Pacific Strategy Planning, Policy and Operations, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development]

I'll just add a few comments.

In terms of the francophonie's place in the updated strategy, we could see phase two of the strategy in the next few months.

As you know, under phase one of the strategy, the opportunity remains, after five years, to not just update it, but also expand and further develop it. The idea is to determine whether the strategy is well-suited to our needs in the next five years, so from 2028 to 2033. It will give us an opportunity to see whether it's possible to incorporate the francophonie, issues other than energy and other aspects that have been mentioned today.

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

I hope that addition will be part of the review currently being carried out, in connection with another possible summit, as I understand it.

As we know, Canada is strengthening its presence as part of a digital trade agreement. You talked about that. Can you tell the committee about Canada's bid to host the 2029 summit? Is there information you can share with us about that?

[Weldon Epp]

That's correct. We launched a campaign, if you will, advising the other members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, forum—not the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—of our capacity to host the 2029 APEC summit. There's a whole process, and the other members have to support the bid. It is a possibility, and I believe only two other countries are still in contention. We are waiting for an official letter confirming certain countries' support for our bid. At that point, planning would get under way to host the APEC summit in a few years.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

We'll go again to MP Michael Chong.

You have five minutes.