National Defence Committee on Oct. 27th, 2011

[Marie Gervais-Vidricaire]

As I said, there's a total of ten assessment missions. They will include experts from the UN and in some cases from different countries. We have expressed an interest in being part of the assessment missions on public security and rule of law, as well as electoral and constitutional processes.

As Barbara said, we're maybe not as clear as we would like to be about exactly what we're going to do, because we need to know what the Libyans really need. We've been able to announce some specific things in the case of de-mining, MANPADS, and dangerous chemical or other non-conventional weapons, because there is clarity. The Libyans themselves identified those issues as priorities--the UN as well. So we know that we can move on those issues quickly. For the rest, we need to have a better idea.

There is a clear niche for Canada, whether it is in the area of training the police, or providing technical assistance for elections. We need to know exactly what is required.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

I'm sorry, the time has expired.

Mr. McKay.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

On the same line of questioning, there is obviously a concern about unexploded ordnance and weapons of mass destruction and things of that nature. There was an article in Agence France-Presse today. It talks about unused munitions, and it says:

“Months ago we warned the National Transition Council and NATO," of the danger.... Artillery shells of all calibres, anti-aircraft ammunition, heat-seeking missiles or others with Semtex explosive warheads, anti-tank missiles, Grad fragmentation rockets, aircraft bombs of 250, 500 and 900 kilograms—

And it goes on and on.

Is that your understanding of the facts?

[BGen Craig King]

Are you asking me, sir?

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

I am. I'm very—

[BGen Craig King]

Sir, there are a lot of munitions in Libya. General Bouchard in his statement over the weekend alluded to the scope of the problem, and it is large. Colonel Gadhafi, before his demise, did a very good job of amassing quite an arsenal, and through a series of steps and processes that have been described we are coming to grips with that collectively as an international community.

So if you're asking me, sir, if the report you are reading is accurate, I fully believe it is.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Am I to understand that the NTC has said to countries like Canada, “Come in and deal with our unexploded ordnance and our weapons of mass destruction, but we'll take care of the munitions”, the unused munitions? In other words, do we have any direction with respect to those unused munitions?

[Barbara Martin]

There's a big difference between what they explicitly asked Canada to contribute to and their broader concern with a range of issues. The UN has actually had some very extensive conversations with them about munitions, the MANPADs and other weapons that are floating in the country.

Part of it is through the process of the demobilization of militia and trying to recapture the weapons that were being used in the conflict. There is very significant priority being put on the big picture.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

That's a conversation between the NTC and the UN on that part. The part Canada is picking up is the unexploded stuff and “weapons of mass destruction”. Thank you.

Have there been any applications by Canadian NGOs to participate in the reconstruction of Libya in any shape or form?

[Barbara Martin]

Yes, there is interest. A number of NGOs were in touch with us immediately.

We continue to have a travel advisory with respect to travel to Libya, recommending only that people go to Tripoli and the Benghazi area if they have essential business.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Do you think any Canadian NGO has been successful in securing any funding to do any particular projects?

[Barbara Martin]

I will defer to Marie.

[Marie Gervais-Vidricaire]

On the de-mining side, just yesterday I met with a gentleman who works with GlobalMedic, which is a Canadian NGO, and he said they are part of the MAG effort, the Mines Advisory Group, which is already de-mining in Libya—

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Pardon me. Does the $2 million come out of DFAIT's budget, or does it come out of the military budget--or does it come out of CIDA's budget?

[Marie Gervais-Vidricaire]

It will be from the DFAIT budget. There are two programs, as I mentioned. All the non-conventional weapons efforts will come from the global partnership program, and the de-mining MANPAD issues will be addressed through our global peace and security fund.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Thank you.

Mr. Norlock.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I guess this question will be for Madam Martin or Madam Gervais-Vidricaire.

Some questions I think are akin to making a sow's ear out of a silk purse. People are surprised that the Government of Canada might be bringing over some business persons who want to begin to assist the new Libyan government with getting back on its feet to be able to fend for itself.

Isn't it in our national interest and our goal that we have a country that is somewhat friendly to democracy and that this fledgling government be self-sufficient and less reliant on international charity and more reliant on its own natural resources? Would you comment on that, please, from strictly a policy perspective?

[Barbara Martin]

Yes, I think you have articulated, extremely clearly and well, exactly what our longer-term goal is. Indeed, it is a Libya that is friendly, a democracy, and one with which we will have relationships on a basis of equality, going forward.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Thank you very much.

Would it not be in keeping with Canada's desire to form international trade relations so that we can benefit not only Libya—and we have expended as a country some significant resources in helping that country become democratized—so that we see in the future a mutual gain in that trade, so we can somewhat in some way recoup some of our resources that we have spent?

[Barbara Martin]

Yes.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

Thank you very much.

I'll turn it over to Mr. Strahl.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

General King, you mentioned that there are 630 or so Canadian Forces personnel participating in the mission, which means there are 630 or so families here wondering when their family members might be home.

My question simply is if NATO decides to wrap up the mission on Monday, what's the timeline to get our men and women back to Canada?

[BGen Craig King]

Thanks, sir.

Concern for our families is a very high priority, one of the highest for us. I can answer your question briefly, as Barbara did the last one. It will be as soon as possible.

But yes, we've already started planning, reconnaissance has been done on the ground to see exactly what we have to do to get everybody recovered, so we're well postured to be able to act rapidly. We'll wait for the Government of Canada’s direction on that, and act once we have that direction. But it will happen very quickly. We're well practised in these kinds of things.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Excellent.

Obviously in some other missions, like Afghanistan, it's very complex. I would assume, because we're not in Libya, that it may be a more streamlined process.