Foreign Affairs Committee on June 16th, 2026

[David Hutchison]

Mr. Chair, I don't have any knowledge on that issue.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Could you undertake to review and write back to the committee on that issue?

[David Hutchison]

To the extent to which Global Affairs Canada presently has any competency in that area, the department will follow up.

[Jacob Mantle, Conservative, York—Durham, ON]

Thank you.

I just remind everyone that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is being selected to be the minister responsible for this bill.

Let me ask you another question.

In September last year, the U.S. CBP issued a withhold release order against Giant Bicycles, whose bicycles are widely available in Canada. It has two stores in Ottawa and three in Toronto.

To your knowledge, are bicycles that have been produced by forced labour currently in the Canadian market?

[David Hutchison]

I have no knowledge on that issue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

Next, we go to Madame Fortier. You have five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We know that the main estimates included a review of operational matters. I believe that consular affairs fall under this heading.

I would like us to discuss, specifically, the issue of the consular services provided by the government. We know that these services are necessary and essential for Canadian travellers going abroad, or even for Canadian residents living abroad.

We obviously want to be a responsible and efficient government, and this is precisely about modernizing consular services so that we can be more efficient.

Could you tell us about the measures currently being taken to modernize consular services and improve their efficiency?

[Shirley Carruthers]

Yes, absolutely.

One of the initiatives we actually did put forward within the context of the comprehensive expenditure review, in order to achieve savings and find efficiencies, was to modernize our consular services. What this really entails is not reducing services to Canadians but actually improving the way we deliver our services.

Going forward, or after the overall modernization project has been completed, we'll have a new digital service window. What this digital service window will do is allow Canadians to access services online. For example, right now folks have to actually go into our embassies for services. Going forward, routine transactions would be enabled through this new digital service window. Say, for example, someone is abroad looking for consular services or assistance. Perhaps they have lost their passport. They would be able to go online and better understand what steps are necessary in order for them to get their passport replaced.

We know that, of course, there are more complex consular cases. The hope is that this new, modern, digital service window will enable us to free up some resources. In addition to the resources that we'll free up in terms of identifying savings within the reduction exercise, it will also allow folks more time to concentrate on those more complex types of consular cases.

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

I have had the privilege of seeing many complex types of consular cases.

How do you intend to use AI or digital services without, however, replacing the face-to-face services that are necessary?

For example, will you have a criterion to ensure that services are always provided in person so that complex cases can be dealt with properly, while offering other services using AI or digital services?

[Shirley Carruthers]

It's a great question. Again, just in terms of the overall modernization, they will be enabled, as you mentioned, through AI, through conversational AI and web-based intake forms. There will be automated triage and routing. For those cases that are the most complex, obviously there would be a piece of this.

In terms of the overall complex cases, this isn't something where we're looking at having it be provided through these digital services. This would be something where we would have resources freed up within our overall footprint of resources to be able to deal with those on an individual case basis.

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

Thank you.

It was a major concern. I realize that it's important to be efficient. Given the sheer volume of work involved, we need to ensure that the necessary services are in place.

I recently had the privilege of travelling to Côte d'Ivoire. I was able to speak with staff at the embassy to see if we had the necessary resources. The question at hand was how we were going to make use of digital services.

As I do not have much speaking time left, I would simply urge Canadians to always register on the travel.gc.ca website so that we know where they are and can contact them should any unfortunate situations arise elsewhere in the world. It is important to register before travelling abroad.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Next is Monsieur Brunelle-Duceppe.

You have two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning to all the witnesses. Thank you for joining us today.

I shall ask my first question straight away, as I do not have much speaking time.

When a private member's bill relating to your department is tabled, do your officials begin analyzing the bill as soon as it is tabled, regardless of the political party that tabled it?

[David Hutchison]

Of course, when a piece of legislation is tabled that's relevant to our department's mandate, experts in our department take a look at it.

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

All right. Thank you.

As I do not have much speaking time, you may answer my questions with a simple “yes” or “no”.

Bill C‑251 was introduced by my colleague Simon‑Pierre Savard‑Tremblay.

Have you compared the provisions of Bill C‑35 with those of Bill C‑251?

Are there any parts of Bill C‑251 that have been incorporated into Bill C‑35, which was introduced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs last Friday?

[David Hutchison]

I'm not in a position to comment on how the legislation was prepared. I think those who were responsible took advantage of a number of resources available.

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

The office of the Canadian ombudsperson for responsible enterprise, or CORE, has just been abolished.

Were there any instructions from your department regarding the government's decision to simply abolish that office?

[David Hutchison]

From a departmental perspective, we're not in a position to comment on the decisions of the government and on how those decisions were formed.

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

I'm not talking about how the decision was formed. However, I imagine the government seeks your advice, as it is part of your job as a public servant to advise the government. I imagine that, before abolishing an office such as that of CORE, the government turns to you and asks for your advice. I can see someone nodding in agreement.

What advice did you give when the government consulted you? What advice did you give them?

[David Hutchison]

There's an ongoing exchange of advice that is confidential with the minister. We're not in a position to share that with the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much for your appearance today.

We will now briefly suspend to prepare the committee for clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-219.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

I call this meeting back to order.

Pursuant to the order of reference of the House of Commons on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the committee will now continue the clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-219, an act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Special Economic Measures Act and the Broadcasting Act.

I would like to welcome the officials who are with us.

From the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development is Robert Brookfield, director general of sanctions and strategic export controls. Thank you, sir, for continuing on with us from the previous session.

Joining us by video conference are Jennifer Keeling, deputy director of the human rights and freedoms division, and Vindya Seneviratne, deputy director of the sanctions policy division. Welcome.

Before I continue, again, just for the record, I'm assuming that we have unanimous consent to continue working throughout the time before the votes.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.