Evidence of meeting #110 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was help.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
I have four minutes. There you go. We're tight on time.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Sweet
Go ahead, Ms. Kalambay, if you want to add something to that answer.
As an Individual
I'd like to follow up on the question that was asked a moment ago.
It is true that Canada has already done a lot to help the Congo, but we are convinced that it can do even more. The reason we are able to stand up and speak out against what is happening in the Congo, as my brother was saying earlier, is that, as Canadians, we learned how things should be done. We saw how things worked in Canada, our host country.
It is quite possible for Canada to provide further structural support to Congolese people, through the diaspora here, thereby helping those still in the Congo. In fact, the reason we are here is to obtain support for the Congolese population still in the Congo, to bring about political, social, humanitarian, and economic improvements. These are all things we learned from Canada.
That is why we are asking Canada for help. We know Canada has provided assistance before and is able to do so again, but on a much more substantial level.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Sweet
We have time for a very brief question and a very brief answer.
Mr. Anderson.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
It may be the wrong question to ask at this time of the day, but can you tell us who is funding the various groups? How much is the government funding? How much is coming from outside the country? How much is coming from natural resource production? Who is funding both the rebel groups and the militia that the government has apparently established as well?
Advisor, Communauté congolaise de la grande région de Toronto
Thank you for the question.
The answer is quite simple. Those groups are being used by the anti-election powers that be. Their reasoning is this: if the country is plunged into chaos, it can't hold elections. Therefore, they create rebel groups, on both sides, such as those in Bas-Congo that killed Bundu dia Kongo followers, those in Kasaï that killed members of Kamuina Nsapu, and those in Kivu. It was the Alliance of Democratic Forces, the same militia fighters who speak Kinyarwanda and Kirundi and who are in cahoots with the current government.
The government of Congo is the one funding the atrocities happening all over the country, in order to strengthen its grip on power and justify the decision not to hold elections.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Sweet
Thank you very much to our witnesses. We greatly appreciate your testimony. It has been very valuable.
Colleagues, the meeting is adjourned.
