Debates of May 29th, 2008

Foreign Affairs and International Trade--Main Estimates, 2008-09

[David Emerson, Conservative, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chair, it is clear that Canada has abolished the death penalty and Canada is also active in a multilateral context to pursue the elimination of the death penalty around the world. I can only say yes.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I want to ask the minister a question about China. Mr. Harder, the former deputy minister of foreign affairs, wrote an article the other day in the Globe and Mail which said something which a number of us have been feeling and that is that there is a definite political chill in the relationship between the Government of Canada and the government of China. He said:

Canadian business leaders are reporting that contracts are definitely being lost as a direct result of the chill between our most senior political leaders.

It would be good to have the minister's view on this issue since the former deputy minister has made that comment.

[David Emerson, Conservative, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chair, I have been to China half a dozen times in the last three or four years. We have had numerous ministerial visits. Our trade numbers are growing rapidly. China is now our number two export market. It is our number two trading partner. I was over in China last week and had very good meetings with a very good reception.

If the hon. member or Mr. Harder believe that we should not be expressing Canada's views on human rights and the treatment of certain individuals in consular cases, the government has made it very clear that we are going to carry on a dialogue. We are going to engage China and we are going to call a spade a spade where we have issue.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am sure the minister has read the article by Mr. Harder and I am sure he will know perfectly well that neither Mr. Harder nor anyone else I know believes that Canada should ever pull its punches with respect to human rights in China or anywhere else, in Colombia or any other country. That is not the issue.

The issue is that there is undoubtedly a political chill because of the failure of the Prime Minister to address the important nature of the relationship with China. Does the minister believe that the Prime Minister himself should be visiting China very soon?

[David Emerson, Conservative, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chair, the Prime Minister has been very clear. He has had discussions with President Hu. He is at the top of the book paying respect to the earthquake victims in China. We have a diplomatic engagement that is ongoing and getting, if anything, more intense. I am sure that the Prime Minister will be a big part of this engagement as we go forward.

[Bob Rae, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, a former deputy minister has taken the rather unusual step of writing an op-ed piece in the Globe and Mail to talk about what he perceives to be a major deterioration in the political relationship between Canada and China. This is a relationship, I might to say to hon. members opposite, that Mr. Diefenbaker started by significantly opening up trade along with the minister of agriculture, Alvin Hamilton, back in the days of Mao Zedong. He did not seem to have any difficulty doing business in that way, and neither did Mr. Pearson, Mr. Trudeau, and Mr. Mulroney, the former Prime Minister of Canada.

I would like to ask the minister once again, does he not see the folly of insisting that we either choose the human rights route or the economic route, and does he not believe that, as the minister said in his opening remarks, “it is a matter of Canada pursuing both its interests and its values”? I would ask him: Does he not see the importance of the Prime Minister understanding the necessity to do that with respect to China?

[David Emerson, Conservative, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chair, we clearly recognize that it is not exclusive to deal with advocacy on human rights and related issues, and to pursue a robust and growing trade relationship. When we look at the data, our trade relationship is growing. Our investment relationship is growing.

The time that I spent in China the last couple of years and the last few trips over there, there is just tremendous interest on the part of China in engaging and working with Canada to promote two-way investment, to engage in dialogue on issues of concern to us as the Chinese have issues of concern to them. That is what is happening and that will continue to happen.

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The next block of time belongs to the government. I recognize the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Cooperation.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Chair, I would like to spend some time telling members about our government's most focused attention to our neighbours in the Americas. The Americas are a priority for our government. The Americas are a region of exciting opportunity, a region where we can make a real difference.

As honourable members are aware, our government is committed to Canada's long term re-engagement with the hemisphere, based on three mutual reinforcing themes: prosperity, democratic governance, and security.

There is much that Canada can do, and that is why our government has sent representatives at the highest levels to visit the region on a regular basis. The Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade , the Minister of International Cooperation, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade as well as myself have made numerous visits to the region over the past two years, along with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade.

Building these personal relationships is important because it contributes to stronger ties among our countries. Enhancing Canada's access to emerging markets in the hemisphere is a key focus for us.

The Americas are clearly in a region of dynamic, economic potential. We know that Canada is the third largest investor in the region and our trade flows are growing rapidly. That is the good news.

Canada's experience with the United States, Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica has shown that free trade makes a major contribution to economic development. That is why we are pursuing a robust regional free trade agenda.

We are building on an established presence in the region by working with like-minded states. Chile is one such partner. We have celebrated 10 years of free trade and look forward to continuing our close relations. In doing so, we are providing Canadian companies with the chance to secure new opportunities in dynamic markets.

Mexico is one of our largest suppliers of temporary foreign workers. These foreign workers are essential to our agriculture sector, and both Canada and Mexico benefit greatly from this mutually beneficial arrangement.

We are also engaging Brazil, a regional powerhouse. It is the eighth largest economy in the world, and I am happy to report that our relationship is defined by a growing partnership and cooperation.

In addition, our bilateral relationship is improving based on a two-way investment, cooperation in Haiti and a growing personal rapport between government leaders.

My colleagues, the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as well as the Parliamentary Secretary of International Trade, have already informed the House about the many negotiations under way and the progress we are making.

At the same time, as we look to these countries for opportunity, we must be mindful of our commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Canada's second objective in the Americas is to bolster the hemisphere's commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

I am pleased to report today that we have already accomplished a great deal. However, the maturity and the depth of democratic governance varies across countries. That is why the Prime Minister has offered to share the Canadian model of democratic freedom and economic openness, combined with effective regional and social support.

Building a safe and secure hemisphere is our third objective. That is why we have worked with partners in the region to enhance the law enforcement and judicial capacities.

In Colombia, Canada has active programming to promote stability and peace. As stated in the Speech from the Throne, the best way to foster development and security is through bolstering international trade. That is why we are also currently negotiating a free trade agreement with Colombia.

Haiti is another good example of where we are working in close cooperation with others like the United States, Brazil, Chile and Argentina, to enhance security. As the Prime Minister noted when he travelled to the region last summer, Haiti is “a test case for the Americas; for our capacity as neighbours and friends to get together in the common endeavour”. The Prime Minister is right.

During a visit to Brazil last year, my colleague, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, had an opportunity to thank that country for the strong support it had been providing through its leadership in the UN stabilization mission in Haiti.

All Canadians can take pride in the government's unprecedented financial commitment to Haiti: $555 million over five years to 2011. Haiti is the second largest recipient of Canadian development assistance in the world after Afghanistan.

My colleague, the hon. Minister of International Cooperation, is an expert in how this money is addressing immediate needs and laying the foundation for Haiti's long term development.

Canada is also among the top donors in advancing security reforms in Haiti. The government recently announced an additional $19 million for police reform and border management to support the recruitment, training and operations of the Haitian national police.

We have also invested in the Caribbean. In 2007 Canada contributed some $7 million in aid in response to numerous storms affecting the Caribbean islands.

Canada is the largest donor to the World Bank's Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility with a $20 million contribution. I am happy to report that CIDA is developing a $20 million natural disaster risk management insurance facility to strengthen the central agency's capacity to respond.

Another tool we have to help accomplish our Americas strategy is sport. Sport promotes democratic principles, fosters social cohesion, and supports individual and institutional development. Throughout the Americas there is a clear appetite for increased Canadian leadership within sport in the region.

I am happy to inform the House that Canada has been very instrumental in the development of the Sport Council of the Americas, an organization whose main objective is to facilitate a broad intergovernmental discussion and cooperation on sport issues in the Americas.

Our government has recently signed sport bilateral agreements with countries such as Brazil and Peru to develop projects. These agreements will enable our countries to cooperate in the areas of sport governance, anti-doping, women in sport, and sport for development and peace.

On another front, we are working through regional organizations and international financial institutions to advance our goals.

Last week, the vice president of Colombia visited Canada. He conveyed his thanks for our ongoing support for peace and human rights in his country. He spoke of the work that Canadians are doing in assisting children and women affected by the longstanding conflict, and he thanked the Prime Minister for supporting a free trade agreement which will bring new opportunities for Colombians.

In conclusion, in reply to the Speech from the Throne, the Prime Minister said:

Many nations in Latin America and the Caribbean are pursuing market reform and democratic development, but others are falling back to economic nationalism and protectionism, to political populism and authoritarianism.

That’s why it’s so important for countries like Canada to engage — to demonstrate there are alternative models that can meet people’s aspirations.

Mr. Speaker, Canada can make a difference in the world.

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Chair, I want to thank the parliamentary secretary for his hard work on the foreign affairs and international development committee, as well as for his speeches here this evening. I would like to follow up on some of his remarks in regard to hemispheric security.

The Americas, like other parts of the world, are facing new forms of security risks and challenges in the 21st century. They are trying to adopt programs to help facilitate those concerns. Canada needs a strategy as well and we are developing that strategy. We need to strengthen security and the rule of law in this hemisphere.

Of concern in some of the Americas is the violence and the drugs there. How can we stop violence and drugs there before they come here? Canada must face up to the challenges that diseases and emerging forms of lethal viruses such as the Avian flu pose to our collective safety and well-being.

As we enter the hurricane season in this hemisphere, I think all of us are still horrified by the pictures that we have seen coming out of Burma as well as the pictures following the earthquake in China. This should serve as a chilling wake-up call that disasters can wreak havoc on citizens and on economies just as much as terrorism and wars.

In the case of the Americas, these security challenges are not halfway around the world but quite literally on our doorstep. The parliamentary secretary mentioned that 2.5 million Canadians travel to the region every year. I think of the citizens in those countries and those Canadians who could be in harm's way. I think of the potential diseases that could inflict the region and could easily be brought back to our cities. A doctor in Chestermere Lake, Alberta, has written to me a number of times with concerns about the kinds of diseases that could make their way back to Canada and hurt our economy.

My question to the parliamentary secretary is: How is Canada prepared to manage these security challenges?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Chair, since we are expressing thanks, I am sure my colleague on the other side, the Liberal foreign affairs critic, will join me in thanking our chair of the foreign affairs committee for doing a wonderful job.

As for the question, which is extremely important and timely, I would like to first point out that after 13 years of neglecting the Americas, Canada is back and playing an active role. We are re-engaging with the region.

There are indeed security challenges in the Americas. Because of our desire to protect Canadians at home and abroad, as well as our neighbours in the hemisphere, we have developed a multi-pronged approach.

On health and pandemic concerns, Canada is focused on building regional solutions to the leading health issues. Working with Health Canada and the Pan American Health Organization, we are developing national policies and programs that reflect the commitment of countries to work with us toward viable and effective programs. We will achieve results by providing the required training and expertise to ensure countries are better equipped to address these concerns on their own and for the long term.

My colleague is quite correct in referring to the unfortunate events that have taken place in Burma. Canada is very concerned by the frequency and the increasing impact of natural disasters, including those that occur in the Americas. We are working to actively promote and support disaster risk reduction activities in the hemisphere.

For instance, in 2007 Canada announced a $20 million program to help communities, governments and regional institutions in the Caribbean enhance their disaster preparedness and response capabilities, as well as another $20 million for the new Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility.

Canada also has a history of responding rapidly and appropriately to natural disasters around the world and is working to further strengthen the international disaster response system. Over the last two fiscal years, for instance, Canada has provided $7.5 million in humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of the areas in the Americas affected by natural disasters and has been working with regional and international agencies to enhance response capabilities in the Americas.

These are examples of this government's actions which demonstrate that we are well positioned and motivated to respond to the security challenges in the hemisphere.

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

The Bloc Québécois has the next block of time. The hon. member for Gatineau has the floor for 15 minutes.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would like to begin by saying that I find it very interesting that we are discussing international issues. In a former life, when I taught secondary school, I took part in or set up UN debating clubs in four different schools. I myself took part in the first Southern Ontario Model United Nations Assembly in 1977. I was the ambassador from Lebanon, a country that was going through a very difficult time then. Because of that experience, I have always had an interest in and an affinity for international affairs.

A number of issues interest me. I would like to know what Canada's position is on la Francophonie, the Canadian International Development Agency and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and where we are headed.

I will start with the Ottawa convention, which expired in 2007. Not long ago, in November 2007, when I was in Laos with the Minister for La Francophonie, we met with an NGO that was working on mine clearance. In Laos, during the war in Vietnam, the Americans—who always denied it—dropped roughly 10 million bombs, a third of which did not explode. When you go to Laos, you see men working in the fields who are missing a leg. The same is true of boys. This is an extremely difficult situation. Canada was a major partner. Thanks to CIDA and la Francophonie, Canada helped Laos clear mines and unearth the bombs dropped by American B-52s. They did not explode because they were dropped from too low an altitude.

That said, I have a question for the Minister for La Francophonie. Since Laos is a member of the international French-speaking community, I would like to know what sort of support Canada is providing for Laos and the other countries in this regard. The Ottawa convention was an extraordinary treaty on anti-personnel mines and mine clearance. It expired in 2007, and there was no indication that the government wanted to renew the treaty.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, our government supports the Ottawa accord and we have done much work regarding landmines.

In fact, as an example, in Afghanistan alone and with our support, 1.3 billion square metres of land have been cleared, in 1,700 communities. More than 520,000 mines and more than 8,200,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance have been destroyed.

Similar kinds of activities are happening in many countries where we are working on this. We work with the Department of Foreign Affairs, which undertakes demining activities as well. When I was in Colombia, we had discussions about the work being done there on demining.

Unfortunately, landmines are prevalent in many countries in conflict. We work with the governments. We work with the United Nations. In fact, in 2007 we contributed a further $80 million to the United Nations Mine Action Service, which will extend until the year 2012. We have certainly responded in those areas and are working with governments where landmines are a concern.

As we all know, these are dangerous not only to people who are trying to be productive and undertake agriculture and move around in their countries so they can pursue their livelihoods, but also unfortunate is the effect this has on children. I know that this government is very concerned about that. The children are trying to go to school and enjoy themselves in play as well as pursue their activities around their towns and villages.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank my colleague. Still on the subject of landmines, we know that the United States and China are still producing these inhumane weapons. In so doing, they are working against agreements that Canada has signed to get rid of these weapons for good.

What is Canada's position on that? How does it plan to influence producers as massive as the United States and the People's Republic of China, which are still producing mines and are not helping solve the problem? They are doing anything but offering solutions. I would like to know more about the government's diplomatic tactics in this regard.

[David Emerson, Conservative, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chair, I think our most effective strategy, and it is going to take time, is to ensure that as many countries as possible are party to multilateral agreements, trying along the way to ensure that some of the outliers that have not become party to the agreements start to feel some moral and diplomatic pressure from those who are.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, on another subject, we—I mean in my former life as a teacher—met with Quebec, Canadian and even German aid workers to discuss the terrible Rwandan genocide tragedy. One aspect of the tragedy that we found most moving and that really touched young people and high school students—not to mention that touched most of us, as parents—was the issue of child soldiers.

Here in Canada, we have a child soldier, or at least, we have someone who was a child soldier when conflict broke out in Afghanistan, and who was taken prisoner. His name is Omar Khadr.

I know that people have already asked questions about this, but there are some answers I would like to hear. What has the current government done to help countries with child soldiers rehabilitate them and help them escape the clutches of those who kill?

Also, what will it do about our citizen, who is still a prisoner of war and who was a child soldier when he was taken prisoner?

What is our position on child soldiers, and what kind of example will we set in Mr. Khadr's case?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Chair, as I have stated, Mr. Khadr faces serious charges. However, the Government of Canada does provide consular assistance, which we have been doing for Mr. Khadr. We will wait for the outcome of the appeals and everything.

In reference to the child soldiers, Canada has been at the forefront in trying to rehabilitate child soldiers in the war. The former minister of foreign affairs, who is now the Minister of National Defence, attended a conference in Winnipeg where he clearly stated Canada's commitment to help the UN in getting child soldiers retrained and back into society. That is one of the main thrusts of the development assistance that Canada has been doing.

Canada is at the forefront working with the United Nations in doing that. As a matter of fact, I would like my hon. friend to know that a Canadian is leading one of the most successful missions in Burundi in trying to get child soldiers back into normal society. Canada is working very hard on that front.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, on another note, but still on the topic of international matters, I would like to know how Canada sees its involvement in la Francophonie with regard to the development of the French fact or at least the enhancement of the French fact around the globe, throughout all the cultures that speak our language.

I would also like to know how Canada is setting an example on francophone matters when it comes to promoting, and at the same time, ensuring spinoffs right here, to combat this very difficult scourge facing our communities. The further one gets from Quebec, the more one is faced with ethnolinguistic assimilation, that is, the anglicization of francophones. We have also seen a bit of this same phenomenon in Quebec.

I would like to know what is being done internationally and, as a result, get an idea of the validity of Canada's approach, if it has one, to combating the scourge of linguistic assimilation.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Chair, Canada is very involved in la Francophonie, both internationally and within Canada, as I indicated in my speech a few hours ago.

As the hon. member knows, Canada will be chairing the next Sommet de la Francophonie. One of the chosen themes, in fact, is language. Canada took on a leadership role on language issues at the convention on cultural diversity.

In terms of Canadian Francophonie and also in the context of Quebec City's upcoming 400th anniversary celebrations, Canada gave $1.1 million to the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française for the “francoforce project”, which will tour the country, stopping in 14 cities from May 30 until September.

These are all measures intended to promote the French language in Canada.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, with respect to the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, we know there was an important meeting last summer, not so long ago, in Montebello with the U.S. president and the Mexican president. We as parliamentarians and citizens have a very hard time with the fact that this type of meeting, which deals with aspects of everyone's lives, is held behind closed doors.

What is the current government doing to ensure that drinking water is not considered a commodity in the North American Free Trade Agreement? Will drinking water continue to be excluded from being considered merchandise, to protect this extremely important resource that Quebec and Canada have in abundance but that should not be wasted and slip through the hands of the highest bidder?

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS]

Mr. Chair, the answer is quite simple. Every once in a while one of the opposition members asks this question. The answer never changes. Water is not a commodity. Water is not traded across the border. It was not traded by the previous government and it will not be traded by this government.

Further to that, the regulations in the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act prohibit the bulk removal of boundary waters from their water basins for any reason.

The opposition parties can continue to ask this question, but the answer will remain the same.

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, if we ask the question, it is because we have no guarantees and parliamentarians are not invited to these very important discussions. Perhaps if the government opened its doors, was far-sighted and demonstrated greater transparency in this matter, we would not ask the question so many times.

I would like the Minister of Foreign Affairs to tell us when we will learn about the current government's first policy on Canada's geopolitical position on foreign affairs, which also touches on—

[The Deputy Chair, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

I regret that I must interrupt the hon. member. The clock shows that the time has expired.

I will allow equal time to the minister.

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS]

I was not certain, Mr. Chair, about the question, but I think he was continuing on bulk water. Bulk water is not tradeable. It is not a commodity.