Evidence of meeting #57 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.

A video is available from Parliament.

public inquiryinformationforeign election interferencesecurity and intelligencenationalconservativesnsicopspecial rapporteurchief of staffconservativedemocratic institutionssocial media platforms2019 and 2021misinformation and disinformationknow

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jennie Chen  Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

I would be pleased to answer the honourable member's question. Not only are my strong statements rooted in feeling, but they are also rooted in the measures our government is taking. Why—

Translated

12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

How many diplomats were expelled in 2018?

Translated

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

I'm going to answer, but you have to give me the chance.

First, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have many tools at my disposal when it comes to dealing with China. To your question specifically, I will say this: I will never hesitate to send home any diplomats who violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations or Canadian laws. Now—

Translated

12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Minister, I'm going to try to keep this simple.

Translated

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

Madam Chair—

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12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

I have a simple question.

Translated

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

Madam Chair, I would just like to answer the question.

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12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

I have a simple question.

Translated

The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger

We're going to take a break, Mr. Berthold.

I have Mr. Turnbull on a point of order.

Partially translated

Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON

Madam Chair, I'm just going to bring up what we all know, which is that Mr. Berthold is talking over the minister. If he wants to get responses to his questions, I think we should be able to hear the minister's responses.

Thank you.

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger

At the beginning of my comments, I was very clear that we cannot have a good conversation unless all comments—from colleagues, ministers, everyone alike—go through the chair.

All comments have to be addressed through the chair, and only one person can speak at a time.

Interpreters can only do the work they do when one person at a time is speaking. I recognize that the time belongs to members, but to pretend that this is a courtroom and go back and forth also doesn't help. On one side, we're saying that this is a very important conversation and we all want to get there, and then on the other, we're kind of trying to make a show out of it.

We should be mindful about how we answer questions. As I asked earlier of both of you, let's just try to keep it tight. The whole concept of thanking for a question or whatever else today is not needed. We said it once at the beginning, we'll say it at the end, and we'll go on our way. We'll ask questions and answer questions as factually as possible. We can make this work.

Go ahead, Mr. Berthold.

Partially translated

12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'll repeat my question. How many Chinese regime diplomats did the Government of Canada expel in 2018?

Translated

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

As I was telling you, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have a number of tools in my tool box to manage relations with other countries, including China. What we've done—

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12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Madam Chair—

Translated

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

What we've done, and I think this is what you really want to know, is—

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12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Madam Chair, can I have the floor back, please?

Minister, I asked you about the number of expelled diplomats in 2018. I gather that none were. How many diplomats were expelled in 2019?

Translated

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

The important thing for the honourable member to understand about diplomatic relations is that diplomats have to adhere to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. If they violate the convention, we expel them, to be sure. What is also important to understand is that we have to be there—

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12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Minister—

Translated

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

—from the beginning to ensure that, if we see already—

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12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

I gather that I won't get an answer to my question about 2019.

In 2021, how many diplomats were expelled?

Translated

Mélanie Joly Liberal Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC

We can take action to prevent a problem, instead of fixing it. As was in the news this morning, we denied prospective Chinese diplomats visas.

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12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Madam Chair, I'm going to continue with my questions.

Translated

Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON

I have a point of order.

As spoken

12:25 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

In 2021, 2022 and 2023—

Translated

Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

As spoken