Debates of Dec. 7th, 2021

Supplementary Estimates (B), 2021-22

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman.

I have a question for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Has Canada always had good relations with the United States, yes or no?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to reassure my colleague that, yes, we still have a good relationship, not only with the Biden administration, but also with Congress and all Americans.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, does this very good relationship mean that we regularly share intelligence with our colleagues, yes or no?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where my colleague is going with his question, but Canada is clearly a member of the Five Eyes, and we co-operate on a range of issues.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Can you confirm that your government knew the date on which the American troops were going to pull out of Afghanistan well in advance, several months in advance?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I wish to remind the hon. member that he must ask his questions through the Chair.

The hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I was not in office at the time. However, I can tell my colleague that when the Americans decided to leave Afghanistan last August, Canada had long since left Afghanistan, in 2011, and its remaining soldiers left the country in 2014.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the minister is new to the job. Can the people who are with her answer us? Was the Department of Foreign Affairs at least informed by the Americans several months in advance that they were pulling out of Afghanistan?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, of course, conditions in Afghanistan were difficult and have become even more so since the Americans decided to leave the country.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell us if she knows how many Canadians were left in Afghanistan after August 31?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, that would be a question for my colleague, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, but with regard to the consular services that were offered and are still available. However, the diplomatic mission in Kabul is no longer—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell the minister that 1,280 Canadian citizens and permanent residents were left behind in Afghanistan.

Next question, does the government know how many interpreters currently stranded in Afghanistan or Pakistan are awaiting their turn to come to Canada?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there are several. Many of them have a connection to Canada. However, because Canada left Afghanistan in 2014, many interpreters also have a connection to several other countries because they were often serving other members of NATO, the military alliance Canada belongs to that was present in Afghanistan.

I also want to let my colleague know that a number of countries are in a situation—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Charlesbourg—Haute‑Saint‑Charles.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government decided to set a target of 40,000 Afghans to be brought to Canada. Why was the number 40,000 chosen?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would reply, why not?

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, do I have to accept an answer like that?

We are talking about resources. Does the minister believe that Canada currently has the resources to receive 40,000 Afghans?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, of course we have the resources. When we welcomed 65,000 Syrian refugees, we were successful and we had the resources.

My esteemed colleagues should be proud, because not many countries in the world would be prepared to receive 40,000 Afghans. We can be proud because we are ready to welcome them and we will be proud to welcome them.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell us when the 40,000 Afghans will be welcomed into Canada?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague needs to understand two things.

First of all, the situation in Afghanistan is very difficult right now in terms of safety and security. That is why my deputy minister went to the region to try to find solutions to bring in the 40,000 refugees as quickly as possible. In the meantime, however, my job is to speak with other countries—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The hon. member for Charlesbourg—Haute‑Saint‑Charles.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, could the minister tell us how many Canadians have been imprisoned by the Taliban?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, any Canadian who is imprisoned anywhere in the world is a priority and has access to consular services.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to know how many Canadians have been imprisoned by the Taliban.