Evidence of meeting #18 for International Trade in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was philippines.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Rev Patricia Lisson
It's hard to put that in 10 seconds.
We're anticipating not a lot of change. I think the duo of Marcos and Duterte will follow the similar pattern of the outgoing president, if not worse.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much.
We have three minutes to the vote. I was trying to get an opportunity for Mr. Savard-Tremblay to get in a question.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
In any case, this is a two‑and‑a‑half‑minute round, so it would be possible.
Bloc
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
So I'll continue with you, Rev Lisson.
You mentioned mining. Are there other sectors in the Philippines where the situation is delicate and should be monitored?
This might be your last word.
Rev Patricia Lisson
Thank you.
The other area that I think needs to be paid attention to is the military industry, the sale of military products to the Philippines. Although Canada's military sales over the last couple of years has been minimal, it's on the rise, particularly as the Philippine government commits itself to a new 15-year improvement. We're looking at a jump in military sales over the next few years.
The armed forces in the Philippines is being mobilized mainly for the international security operations—that is, caring for the mining operations and to fight things like the New People's Army or the Moro rebels. These are human rights issues and human rights defenders issues. The government uses the military to fight insurgents and terrorism, so it's used as a way for the government to crack down on the critics of the government, including the human rights and environmental defenders.
The war against terror—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Ms. Lisson, I'm sorry. I have to cut you short.
I might make the suggestion to put something in writing to the committee regarding this. It might be helpful for the committee, because we just don't have enough time and we have too many great witnesses. My apologies for starting late and my apologies for stopping two or three minutes early, but we have a vote, and I can't make it any closer.
In fact, I think it's getting too tight, so with the permission of the committee, I'm going to move adjournment of the meeting.
Thank you very much.
