Evidence of meeting #10 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ethiopia.
A video is available from Parliament.
8:45 p.m.
Conservative
Kenny Chiu Conservative Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Thank you.
There is an assumption that the Tigrayans are not self-sufficient in their agriculture and their food production. Is that true? Can you outline for us the agriculture situation in the Tigray area, please?
8:45 p.m.
Association of Tigrayan Communities in Canada
It's a subsistence economy, for the most part. It's agricultural a bit, like everywhere else in Ethiopia. This year in particular was what they call a bumper year, meaning that the rainy season was exceptionally good throughout Tigray, but there was a locust invasion. Actually, the war started in the midst of the worst locust invasion that Tigray has faced, and when the farmers were harvesting their crops. That's what compounded the problem.
8:45 p.m.
Conservative
Kenny Chiu Conservative Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Thank you.
My last question is to Mr. Alemu.
How are Canadian expat Ethiopians being influenced by the government there?
8:45 p.m.
Liberal
8:45 p.m.
Conservative
8:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
We're moving to Mr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, for two and a half minutes.
Thank you.
8:45 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
This will be my last turn.
I am grateful to the witnesses for being here today. We will do our best to be their voices.
Mr. Chiu may be pleased to hear my question, since it's in the same vein as his line of questioning.
I'd like to know what attitude Ethiopians outside the Tigray region have taken to the conflict. Is the government using propaganda? Are there any alliances with Tigrayans?
Mr. Teklay, perhaps you could give me a sense of what's happening in that regard.
8:45 p.m.
Association of Tigrayan Communities in Canada
Was the question directed towards me?
8:45 p.m.
Association of Tigrayan Communities in Canada
I lost part of the French speech because I didn't know how to choose the interpretation.
8:45 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
That's no problem. I'm used to it, being the only French speaker on the subcommittee. We are all friends nonetheless. I'll repeat my question.
What attitude have Ethiopians outside the Tigray region taken to the conflict? Does the government use propaganda? Has the population outside the region already picked a side?
Mr. Teklay, perhaps you can give us some information on that.
8:45 p.m.
Association of Tigrayan Communities in Canada
Thank you very much.
About the rest of the population of the country, the government maintains a media monopoly, so whatever narrative the government promotes, it gets currency in the rest of the population. A majority of the Ethiopian population, I would say, are misled by government propaganda. There is nothing coming out of Tigray that counteracts that narrative.
Yes, we didn't see people coming out and opposing the war, and that's very sad. Even the clergy—priests, popes—were supporting the war, and that's the very sad thing in our history. When religious people bless the war in Tigray, I don't know what country we have.
8:45 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Excuse me, Mr. Chair, but I don't think I had three full minutes. I think my fellow members would agree.
I would've liked to hear what Mr. Achamyeleh had to say.
8:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
I did add about 20 seconds extra, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.
On your other one, I added 90 seconds, so I tried to allow for that time.
8:50 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
All right, I will check the recording. I hope I didn't lose any speaking time. That would not be acceptable. This type of meeting is too important. It would be really disappointing to lose speaking time because of an interpretation issue.
8:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, you are correct, and I do try to allocate for that time wherever we have these technical difficulties or challenges with interpretation or the like, so I did add on to your first one and this one.
We are going to move to Ms. McPherson for two and a half minutes, please.
8:50 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you again to all of the witnesses. I will have the last opportunity to ask you questions.
This week, the Government of Canada led a charge asking for all countries to step away from arbitrary detention, to oppose arbitrary detention. Would it be worthwhile—and I'd like to hear from all four of you—to have the Canadian government withhold humanitarian aid, withhold bilateral aid until the Ethiopian government agrees to release political prisoners at this time? I'm just wondering if that would be something that you would see as useful.
If I could, I would start again with Mr. Teklay.
8:50 p.m.
Association of Tigrayan Communities in Canada
I would say, yes, absolutely. Funds should be withheld.
8:50 p.m.
Balderas North America
Humanitarian aid, no, but bilateral aid, yes, because the bilateral aid will go to the government budget and we don't know where that money will go. Withholding humanitarian aid will hurt the people, I think, and at this time I don't really suggest that.
8:50 p.m.
Balderas North America
I agree. I think it would change a lot.