House of Commons Hansard #123 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was isil.
Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, Syria is also experiencing a humanitarian crisis and has been for almost four years. Millions of civilians are in desperate need of assistance. I had the opportunity to visit the Al Zaatari camp last May in northern Jordan. They are waiting for up to $5 billion that has been pledged to them.
What action is Canada taking to address this humanitarian crisis?
Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie
Mr. Speaker, we have been very active in this area and neighbouring countries. I can say to my colleague that we have been very active with UNICEF with support for the No Lost Generation initiative for protecting children in conflicted areas. Also we provided support for basic needs, and now 16 million people have access to clean water. As well, 4.1 million Syrians inside the country and nearly three million refugees in neighbouring countries have emergency assistance and now have access to food assistance.
These are our concrete actions. We have been there for a while. We are one of the leading donor countries in this situation.
Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister told this House on Friday that Canada would take part in air strikes against the Islamic State only in countries where the government has given us permission to do so, such as Iraq. He also said that if it were to become the case in Syria, then Canada would participate in air strikes in that country too.
Under what circumstances does the Prime Minister plan to negotiate with Bashar al-Assad?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I thought the Prime Minister was actually very clear in question period on Friday. He said that we would go where we have the clear support of the government of the country in question. At present that is only true in Iraq. If it were to become the case in Syria, then we will participate in air strikes against ISIL in that country as well.
ISIL knows no boundaries, no borders. ISIL is a threat to everyone in that area. As I have said, they are a direct threat to Canada.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister continues to imply that combat is the only way to contribute to the global effort against ISIL. The problem is that it is just not true. Germany, Japan, and Italy are helping the—
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order. The hon. member for Ottawa Centre has the floor and members need to allow him to put the question.
The hon. member for Ottawa Centre.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, they are a little touchy today.
The problem is that what the government is saying is just not true. Germany, Japan, and Italy are helping the coalition without joining in combat. The Italian foreign minister has said that Italy will not take part in air strikes, but will send “...above all material for humanitarian support, which is a priority”.
Why is the minister devaluing our G7 allies?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, that is certainly not the case. We have deployed individuals there for reconnaissance and tactical advice. We have been delivering over a million and a half pounds of military material to this area. We are seventh in the world with respect to humanitarian assistance.
This combat role is one more effort on this country's behalf to do what is right for the people of that area and to do what is right for the people of Canada.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, one of the things the government keeps repeating is that the United Nations “has passed a resolution unanimously with respect to the situation in Iraq”, implying that the Security Council has endorsed air strikes. The minister knows full well that Security Council resolutions about ISIL are not about a combat mission, but about deplorable human rights abuses that are occurring and about the need to tackle the issue of foreign fighters.
Does the minister understand that the United Nations has not endorsed a combat mission in Iraq? Can he answer that question?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member pointed out the deplorable human rights record of these individuals, which include beheadings and mass atrocities. We have indicated that this is completely unacceptable, so in addition to the other actions that we have taken as a government, we have put this motion before Parliament to support our efforts for strikes against ISIS. It is the right thing to do.
Élaine Michaud NDP Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, on Friday the Prime Minister said he plans to bomb countries where we have, and I quote, “the clear support of the government of the country in question”. Apparently Syria falls into that category.
Can the Minister of National Defence confirm that he plans to take part in air strikes in Syria if the Assad regime—a regime that has committed the worst atrocities against its own people—gives its consent?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, it sounds like the NDP is making that as a suggestion because of the record in Syria. However, we have been very clear that the focus is Iraq and we have indicated that it is a six-month mission. We are sending first-class equipment and first-class individuals, members of the RCAF, to help with the job.
We have been very clear about what our objective is: to degrade the capabilities of ISIL. That should have the support of everyone in the House.
Élaine Michaud NDP Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, even the United States is still working out the details of the military mission in Iraq and Syria.
The American general who is coordinating the international coalition, John Allen, was in Iraq last week to meet with local authorities and partners to come up with a strategy. This shows that the situation is changing rapidly and there are still a lot of loose ends to take care of.
Why is the government so intent on taking part in air strikes when we do not even know what the American strategy is?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is partly right, in that the situation is developing very quickly, and this is exactly why we have to do this. I have indicated that over the next few weeks we will be working with our allies for the deployment of members of the RCAF.
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, according to International Crisis Group, air strikes are counterproductive because they alienate the local populations that we are trying to save.
In the case of Syria, the situation is even worse: air strikes will help President Assad's murderous regime.
Have the Conservatives evaluated the counterproductive consequences of air strikes in their overall military strategy in Iraq and possibly Syria?
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I disagree with the hon. member's comments about air strikes. What we are proposing and implementing is one more step in our effort to go against this terrible organization that has brutalized and dehumanized people in that area, committing mass atrocities that were also a direct threat to Canada.
I have already indicated the military equipment that we have sent, the humanitarian aid, and the strategic and tactical advice we are giving to members of the Iraqi forces. This is one more step, and it is a step we have to take.
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are opening the door to strikes in Syria, but they have been unable to keep their promise to Syrian refugees.
The Conservatives' budget cuts are causing major delays in refugee claim processing. Sweden alone has welcomed 30,000 Syrian refugees.
How is it that the minister has not even been able to keep his modest promise of taking in 1,300?
Chris Alexander ConservativeMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is once again comparing apples to oranges.
Sweden received lots of refugee claimants because the borders of Europe and Syria are relatively close. Canada is fulfilling its promise. We have already resettled more than 1,500 refugees in Canada.
Why does the opposition continue to ignore the fact that 18,500 Iraqi refugees—and today's debate is about Iraq—have already been resettled in Canada? That is a record.
Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister has to stop making up his numbers and acknowledge his government's failure on the issue of Syrian refugees. After promising to bring in over 1,300 last year, an internal report from Citizenship and Immigration shows that only a few hundred have actually arrived in Canada. The Conservatives have cut staff and closed offices, thereby adding to the backlog.
Will the minister now keep his promise, live up to our international commitments, and bring these refugees to Canada now?
Chris Alexander ConservativeMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, we have brought over 1,500 Syrians to Canada. We have brought over 18,500 Iraqis to Canada. That is over 20,000 people from the region. It is a record for any of those countries donating.
The real question is this. What is the NDP going to do for the millions more people who cannot be resettled and for the millions more people who are still displaced inside Iraq who are facing genocide, murder, rape, the elimination of their entire community? One of the solutions is targeted military action with Arab states and with our allies. Why will the New Democrats not even consider it?
Sylvain Chicoine NDP Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives want to get us involved in a new war even though they are having a hard time taking care of our veterans.
According to a unanimous parliamentary committee report, the new veterans charter needs to be improved to provide more resources to veterans and their families. However, the minister's evasive answers are not meeting veterans' expectations.
Veterans have been asking for help for nine years, we have a unanimous report, and the ombudsman has repeatedly been critical, so when will the Minister of Veterans Affairs take action?
Parm Gill ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the hon. member opposite first to get his facts right. I would encourage him to read the government response to the committee report. I would encourage him to maybe take a closer look at the new veterans charter.
Since taking office, our government has invested almost $30 billion to provide benefits and services for Canada's veterans, unlike the Liberals. Under their government, Canada's brave men and women, including veterans, basically suffered a decade of darkness. That was not under this government.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs' response to the all-party committee report on the veterans charter is being panned by leading veterans' groups.
For example, Veterans Canada describes the minister's response as a “...cryptically worded and evasive pseudo-commitment to make near imperceptible changes to the troubled benefits.” The minister and his department are described as “lackluster”.
Why did the minister give so paltry a reply, and will he reconsider his response to this important committee report?
Parm Gill ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we have a strong record when it comes to helping Canada's veterans. Let me just highlight some of our government's record.
We have invested almost $30 billion since taking office. That is almost $5 billion in new funds, more than what the Liberals would have invested. A veteran who is injured and in rehabilitation receives a minimum of $3,500 in financial benefits each month. The most seriously injured veterans can receive upwards of $6,000, $7,000, or $8,000 a month in financial support.