Subcommittee on International Human Rights Committee on Feb. 23rd, 2026

[Einat Wilf]

One of the greatest things that need to be understood is, of course, the role of UNRWA, the Orwellian-named United Nations Relief and Works Agency. It tries to pretend it is the firefighter, but it is actually the arsonist. UNRWA has tremendous responsibility for the fact that Gazans chose to invest years and billions in building the infrastructure of tunnels and in planning and executing the invasion into Israel and the massacre.

UNRWA that essentially allowed the people of Gaza to plan and invest in this. Moreover, UNRWA has allowed the people of Gaza, as well as the Palestinians in the West Bank, to continue to believe that they are legitimized and that they have global support, UN support and Western support through the funding for the idea that it is legitimate to pursue the destruction of the Jewish state as a goal—

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Can you please wrap up? We have exceeded the time by almost one minute.

[Einat Wilf]

Ultimately, when people ask what will replace UNRWA, it's quite simple. Ultimately, it's Palestinian responsibility. The day when they finally choose to build for themselves rather than destroy the Jewish state, they will no longer need the money or that terrible goal.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Thank you.

I would now like to invite Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe to take the floor for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Member spoke in Spanish]

[Translation]

I will continue in French because it's the official language here, and I have to continue in French.

I was in Berlin last Monday, and I had the opportunity to meet Leopoldo Lopez, an extraordinary orator. We didn't have a chance to talk much, but I'd like to hear your opinion on the current situation in terms of the conditions that should be in place to allow for the voluntary and safe return of Venezuelans who are currently displaced.

[David Smolansky]

Thank you for the question.

To guarantee a safe return of millions of Venezuelan migrants and refugees, we first need to have a complete restoration of democracy. Second, the political rights in the cases of political leaders who have been forced into exile need to be guaranteed. Third, we need a country that is completely free, not partially free. I would add that we need a nation that guarantees access to justice, which we have lacked for almost three decades. Fourth, we need a country in which the people who can go back could have access to education, health care and work. I would say that those are the conditions that we need for people to go back.

I'm aware that nine million Venezuelans will not go back. This has not happened with any other migration outflow or diaspora, but it might be a unique case in which you see 30% or 40% of the population going back if the conditions are improved.

Definitely, democracy, freedom and access to justice are mandatory for that to happen.

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

Can you tell us which country has the largest number of displaced Venezuelans right now?

Is it Colombia or another country?

[David Smolansky]

Colombia right now has approximately 3.7 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees, surpassing the Syrians in Turkey. Then there is Peru, which has 1.7 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees. The U.S. has 1.3 million. You have very similar numbers in Brazil, Ecuador and Chile—between 500,000 and 600,000 Venezuelans. That's in regard to the Americas.

If you go to Europe, the largest Venezuelan community is in Spain, and it is estimated to have between 500,000 and 600,000 Venezuelans.

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

[Member spoke in Spanish]

[Translation]

Ms. Schaefer, Ms. Ndiaye gave us the example of Norway earlier. We talked about funding just before. Maybe this has changed, but the last time I checked, I think Norway was one of the only countries to meet the target of 0.7% of gross domestic product, or GDP, for international development assistance, a value that the UN requested. I would point out that Canada is currently not far below the 0.3% mark.

Isn't that not only a structural example of programs that work, but also an example of how a country should behave on the international scene to prevent international crises upstream, that is, by funding international aid at the level requested by the UN, as Norway is doing?

My question is for both of you.

[Ndeye Dieynaba Ndiaye]

Thank you very much.

Yes, Canada should play its role, especially since Canada is internationally recognized as a country that truly cares about the rights of migrants and, above all, people in vulnerable situations.

I completely agree that Canada should contribute more to aid, especially in terms of support. We're mainly talking about co-operation and partnership where everyone wins, since that enables these populations to develop skills and, ultimately, be a little more independent. Indeed, the goal is not to propose short-term solutions, but to propose long-term solutions. That's what the European Return Fund does, for example, to support people who want to return to their country, people who want to develop businesses, and so on.

Canada can do that, and it's starting to do so. However, above all, it will have to expand its immigration and international funding policies. It will have to put that at the heart of its policies. Canada has always done so. I don't know why that's starting to change a bit, especially in the last few years, because—

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

I'm sorry to interrupt. Please finish your answer, because time is up.

[Ndeye Dieynaba Ndiaye]

In my opinion, Canada should not only provide funding, but also provide more funding to populations that are currently very vulnerable. I'm thinking in particular of people who are displaced for climate reasons.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Thank you, Ms. Ndiaye.

I'd like to thank all the witnesses for their testimony regarding internally and externally displaced people across the world.

On behalf of the subcommittee—myself, all the members, the staff and the interpreters—I would like to thank all of our witnesses for their presence. Your good introductions and good answers to our questions have enlightened this subcommittee.

If any of you would like to contact the subcommittee to give additional information, you can write to me, as the chair, or to the clerk. We welcome anything from your side.

We thank you again, and we wish you the best.

The meeting is over. We're adjourned.