Subcommittee on International Human Rights Committee on Dec. 10th, 2024

[Bob Rae]

In Colombia, it's different. Colombia has created a situation where it has accepted millions of people from Venezuela. It has given them the opportunity to work and be educated there. It has given them security cards, so they can stay and live there. Colombia has taken an important position in that sense.

We need to continue working with countries that accept refugees, that help them and give them the opportunity to stay, instead of telling them to go away. Given the policies that exist in other countries, it will become increasingly difficult for people to stay where they land. It's a tough situation. That's why we need to find solutions.

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

As Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, you're in a good position to talk to us about this. You say that some countries are much easier to work with on migrant rights at the moment. I'm referring primarily to countries along the route from Brazil to Canada. Some of the countries that you said are easier to work with include Colombia and possibly Costa Rica.

That must mean that some countries are less easy to work with. Could you tell us about those countries today as well?

[Bob Rae]

We could talk about a lot of countries along that route. The Mexicans are doing a tremendous job in providing people with employment opportunities. The same goes for Guatemala, for example. I just had a great conversation with the Guatemalan ambassador two days ago and we specifically talked about this issue. We could also talk about Costa Rica, which has a different policy.

That said, another aspect of the problem needs to be considered. Some people want to keep travelling further. When that happens, it's hard to stop them.

The next year is going to be hard, and I think we're going to see different policies put in place. It's important to recognize these people as human beings and respect their rights and dignity. They are not people who should be put in jail. They should be accepted.

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

Yes, absolutely.

[Bob Rae]

That's why I think it's important for us to reaffirm our obligation.

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

We're on the same page on that point. These are people, human beings.

Now, I'm sure you are aware that criminal organizations are abusing these people all the way to the Canadian border. The Globe and Mail reported that some people are demanding up to $45,000 to help migrants cross the Canadian border illegally.

Where do things stand regarding the criminal organizations abusing these people?

[Bob Rae]

Organized crime exists everywhere in the world. Its activities have very costly repercussions, it tramples on human rights and it abuses victims of crime.

In general, organized crime, like corruption, is a huge problem around the world. That's why we have to keep dealing with it in a realistic way. These people didn't randomly decide one day to pick up and go somewhere else. That's not what's happening. These are people affected by drugs, corruption and companies that lure them with promises, saying they can help them and that nothing will go wrong. An international effort is needed to deal with the level of criminality that we're seeing. It's a huge problem.

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

Thank you, Mr. Rae.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Thank you, Mr. Rae and Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

I invite Mr. Johns to speak.

You have five minutes.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

First, I want to thank you, Ambassador Rae, for joining us today and for your service to Canada.

You're aware of the forced displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from northern Gaza over past months during Israel's genocide. You'll also be aware that Israeli extremist leader Daniella Weiss, who was sanctioned by Canada, visited northern Gaza to scout settlement locations, and members of Netanyahu's own government—

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Excuse me, Mr. Johns. I believe we are off topic. Please come back to our topic.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I'll be coming right back to it. This is part of it.

We know that members of Netanyahu's own government are advocating for resettling Gaza for Jewish Israelis. I note that Canada has not yet sanctioned members of Netanyahu's government, despite the NDP asking for months for Canada to do so.

I want to ask you to explain Canada's position, on the record, to specific questions. What is Canada doing to prevent the resettlement of Gaza by Israel?

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Excuse me, Mr. Johns, but you're off topic.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

This is absolutely on topic.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

If you want to challenge my decision, you can.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, I'll ask the ambassador if he can talk about what Canada is doing to prevent the resettlement of Gaza.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

This is not regarding immigration. We are not discussing that at all.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

It is. It's about internally displaced people. That's what the study is on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

I'm sorry, but I can't allow it.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I'll pivot to Syria, then. That's an issue that I'm sure, Mr. Chair, you'll be fine with me talking about, because Syria has one of the world's worst displacement crises.

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

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Go ahead, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

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

I just want to point out to everyone that a lot of people are talking with their microphones turned off.

We have to be mindful of our interpreters' health and safety. They do an outstanding job. They're probably among the best in the world. Mr. Rae would be able to attest to that. Canada's parliamentary interpreters are the best in the world when it comes to enabling us to work in both official languages. I'd like their work to be respected. This requires that my colleagues, if they wish to talk, must wait until their microphone is turned on.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Thank you, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

Mr. Johns, please stay on topic. We cannot go off topic.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

This is about internally displaced people, Mr. Chair.

I'll say this about my colleagues. I may not have agreed with their questioning, but I didn't interrupt. I let them speak, because it was their time and I respect that, as long as they're on topic.

I'm going to ask a question. Hopefully this one will be fine.

Syria, obviously, has had one of the world's worst displacement crises, affecting an estimated 60% of its pre-war population. With the events of the past weekend—the welcomed fall of Assad's murderous regime—we're seeing that many Syrians want to return home to help rebuild their country.

Ambassador, what can you tell us about Canada's support for those displaced Syrians and what the next months may hold?