Evidence of meeting #20 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was eritrean.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Our figures are for 2010. So they are being recognized as refugees.
Liberal
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
How much work is the Government of Canada able to do when it comes to the issue of human rights in Eritrea? I said “able”, if you noticed.
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Yes. I think again, we're using the means that are open to us in the institutions where the Eritreans are present, such as the UN. We're hoping that the countries of the AU will also do so, but we'll see. This is a new chapter.
Liberal
Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON
Do you ever meet with the Eritrean community here in Canada, as a source of information?
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I think we have met. I haven't personally met with the Eritrean community, but it's quite usual for the Department of Foreign Affairs to meet with diaspora communities. I'm not sure exactly when the last meeting with the Eritrean community was.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
Thanks very much.
We're going to go to Ms. Grewal now. I'll just make note of the time. We're running a little bit tight, so we may have to tighten up a little bit on the questions here.
Please go ahead, Ms. Grewal.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to both of you for your presentation and your time.
Could you please tell us about the conditions and the treatment of the recruited Eritrean soldiers?
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The treatment of Eritrean soldiers?
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Recruited Eritrean soldiers. What's the treatment like?
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I think we know that the treatment is not very good, specifically if we're talking about compulsory national service. We know that what is usually supposed to be I think an 18-month term of service is sometimes considered indefinite. So those who are recruited as part of national service don't necessarily serve only their 18 months.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Are you able to comment a little bit on the present conditions in Eritrea, and do you know whether they meet internationally recognized standards?
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I think it's safe to say that a number of international organizations—Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other countries' observers—would say that they don't meet international standards as far as human rights are concerned on a number of fronts, including freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
How much flexibility has been given to the non-governmental organizations and forms of foreign aid in Eritrea?
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I think virtually no margin for manoeuvre has been given by the Eritrean government to international NGOs, and domestic NGOs are required to register.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Based on the growing violence and concerns, does the Canadian government plan to further implement sanctions on various sectors of Eritrea?
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
What we are doing is implementing the sanctions that are in place, most recently the ones that were expanded in December 2011 by the UN Security Council.
February 7th, 2012 / 1:55 p.m.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
For decades, Eritrea and Ethiopia have been in a very bad conflict situation over their shared border and Eritrea's very right to exist. Could you tell us if sometimes the Eritrean government uses this ongoing dispute as an excuse to limit civil liberties?
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I think we know that the Eritrean government does limit civil liberties, so that's plain to see.
NDP
Ève Péclet NDP La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would also like to talk about the influence of the mining industry and especially about the resolution adopted by the Security Council expressing its suspicion that the mining industry was subsidizing armed rebel groups in countries surrounding Eritrea.
We need to know what the Government of Canada is doing to monitor Canadian businesses that are active in the mining sector in Eritrea. I would like you to comment on this.
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Thank you very much for the question.
With your permission, I will answer in English.
I think, first of all, the Canadian government expects Canadian companies operating abroad to uphold internationally recognized standards and principles. Canada doesn't extend its laws to apply abroad, including the actions of companies, and we don't support other countries, for example, in extending the application of their laws to Canada.
What we do is support and encourage Canadian businesses to develop and implement, for example, corporate social responsibility initiatives. We encourage them to abide by standards, such as the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises, and the UN Global Compact, and we also expect Canadian companies to operate transparently and in full consultation with the local communities in which they're conducting operations.
The Government of Canada does not represent private companies. These companies operate according to their own principles. The Government of Canada outlines the expectations, and that's where our policy stands.
NDP
Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC
We have a Canadian mining company that has interests there, quite significant interests. We have a country that has not allowed our ambassador on its soil. We have no way of finding out what's happening on the ground. Shouldn't we be having some concerns about that as a country?
For example, here we are with huge investments by Canadians, and we're still trading with them, when we know that there are some really dire violations of human rights just from the rumours we're hearing, but we have no way of checking. I am just finding it a little bit puzzling that we can carry on trading with a country that doesn't even allow us on their soil.
Director General, Africa Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
That's current government policy, to maintain trade. I wouldn't say we have no means of knowing what's going on in the country. Obviously there are means.