Subcommittee on International Human Rights Committee on Dec. 10th, 2020

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

That's a very strong opportunity for Canada to raise that voice and raise the issues that Ms. Maung has brought up as well.

[David Mueller]

Exactly.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I have one last thing that I want to touch on with all three of you, if I have time.

In terms of the actual response to COVID-19 and what COVID-19 means on the ground, both in terms of getting a vaccine to populations that are particularly vulnerable but also in terms of providing the supports that we want to provide to the Rohingya people, what would be your number one recommendation?

I'll start with Mr. Mueller, and then I'll ask Ms. Maung and Mr. Rae.

[David Mueller]

The government is doing what it can. The ministry of health and sports is working closely with the WHO. I also sit on the COVID-19 core group. More money is needed. Canada provides resources, but only 50% of the COVID-19 addendum of the UN for the HRP has been given. More resources are needed for testing and vaccines. The last report indicated that only 40% will get the vaccine by the end of 2021 with the resources available at the moment. More resources need to be provided for vaccination and testing.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

It's the COVAX method, yes.

Ms. Maung, would you have anything to add? I know that if we don't see the vaccine distributed equitably, we will be looking at a 30% higher morbidity rate.

[Manny Maung]

I couldn't stress enough what Mr. Mueller has said. Money is always an issue. Certainly, more donors would be appreciated. If we're looking at the context of providing services, medical facilities, quarantine facilities and oversight are really important to support the needs of IDPs, as well as the general population, to ensure that health care is compliant and that it's being done with dignity for those who have been exposed to illness.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Rae, is there anything you'd like to add to the vaccine conversation?

[Bob Rae]

Vaccines globally are underfunded. That's a huge issue, and it's going to become a bigger issue as the vaccines become more widely produced. That's just a fact. It's going to become a much bigger issue.

The second connected issue is that the social and economic costs of COVID are huge, much bigger, I think, than we've appreciated, much bigger than we yet understand. To talk about speaking up, I've been doing everything I can. There's the report I wrote over the summer, and ever since then, I've been speaking up as much as I can about the fact that, globally, we're going to have to make a far bigger, better response to the overall impact of COVID-19, much bigger than is currently contemplated.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you. That will conclude our second round.

What a fantastic way to conclude our final meeting of the subcommittee for 2020. On behalf of all the members, we can't thank our witnesses enough. Of course, Ambassador Rae, Mr. Mueller, Ms. Maung and Ms. Deif, you are just tremendous advocates, champions and ambassadors—literally and figuratively—for human rights on this Human Rights Day.

Members, just before we go in camera, just to do this in public I'll thank, of course, the clerk, the analysts, the staff, the interpreters and everybody who makes this committee such a wonderful place to be and supports the work we are able to do. Thank you for your tireless work.

I want to wish everybody a very merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy Kwanza, feliz Navidad, joyous Festivus and a very happy new year. I bid good riddance to 2020, hopefully, and wish a much better 2021 for everybody here in Canada and around the world.

Thank you, everyone.

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

Thank you.

We will send you the report, Mr. Rae. It's a promise.

[Bob Rae]

Absolutely. I'll be waiting for it.

[Proceedings continue in camera]