Debates of May 31st, 2021

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development—Main Estimates, 2021-22

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Chair, trade representatives told the U.S. Senate that they wanted to settle the softwood lumber issue, but Canada was not interested.

Is that true or false?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have shared and reiterated Canada's position to the U.S. trade representative as well as the commerce secretary that a negotiated agreement is possible and it is in the best interests of both countries.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Chair, it is an open secret that some Canadian companies do not want the issue of softwood lumber prices to be resolved because their multinationals operate on both sides of the border.

Is the government supporting Canadians dealing with skyrocketing prices and our forestry SMEs and co-operatives, or is it supporting the multinationals that are getting to call the shots in the current situation?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, as the minister responsible for both small business and international trade, I can assure the member that standing up for small businesses is at the very core of what I do. Standing up for Canada's forestry sector and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that it employs across the country is what we do.

We will vigorously defend their interests and, as I have reiterated to the United States, a negotiated agreement is indeed in the best interest of both countries.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Chair, the Biden administration has announced that it intends to challenge Canada's allocation of dairy tariff-rate quotas through the CUSMA dispute settlement mechanism.

The United States says that Canada's trade policies prevent U.S. dairy producers from taking full advantage of CUSMA. Canadian exporters, importers and farmers cannot afford any more of the Liberal failures in managing Canada-U.S. trade relations that they have witnessed over the past five years.

What does the government plan on doing to protect our dairy producers?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would first start with reminding my hon. colleague that it is our government that protected the supply-managed sector. We are disappointed that the U.S. has requested a dispute panel, but we are confident in the administration of dairy TRQs and that they are in full compliance with the commitments under CUSMA.

Our government will continue to stand up for Canada's dairy industry, our farmers and our workers, and we will continue to protect and defend our supply management system.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Chair, Canada is in this situation because the Liberal trade minister was unable to stand up for Canada's dairy producers at the bilateral meeting with her counterpart in early May.

Since this meeting, trade relations between Canada and the United States have only deteriorated, what with the announcement that the U.S. would be doubling softwood lumber tariffs and now this official dispute of Canada's dairy tariff-rate quotas.

When will the Liberal government provide a schedule for compensating dairy producers for concessions made under CUSMA?

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, I want to assure the hon. member that our government will always stand up for Canada's dairy industry, our farmers and our workers.

Let me also share with the member that in my meeting with the U.S. trade representative recently, we talked about North American competitiveness. We talked about the new NAFTA and how it will help to create jobs in both of our countries, as well as in Mexico. We talked about economic recovery and how we were going to deal with the very important issues of climate, labour and making trade inclusive so that small and medium-sized businesses will benefit from this very important agreement.

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, in today's uncertain global landscape, it is essential to have an effective, rules-based international system that promotes and protects the interest and prosperity of all Canadians. The current system is based on a respect for international law and the territorial integrity of the states, and guided by the fundamental premise that no country can accomplish alone what we can accomplish together.

This system has contributed to the relative peace and steadily expanding prosperity of the last 75 years. It has facilitated massive trade growth. It has helped advance collective security by reducing the use of hard power between states, instituting rules for the use of force and supporting peaceful settlements of disputes. It has provided an expanding framework to foster the conditions for open markets, the rule of law and democratic governance. It has allowed the world to manage issues of common interest from fishing rights to air transport, extradition, postal services, telecom regulations, and the creation of legal frameworks for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Through the decades, this system has largely proven resilient in the face of interstate tensions. However, the system has been stressed by several factors in recent years, amplified during the pandemic, such as increased geopolitical competition. Some states increasingly disregard principles and institutions they find inconvenient; notably, those related to human rights, the rule of law and good governance. Protectionism has grown alongside isolationist domestic politics. Financial, organizational and leadership challenges affect the ability of some multilateral entities to fulfill their mandates effectively. At the same time, we face acute global challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation and forced migration that cannot be solved by countries acting alone.

In the face of these pressures, action is required, not just to protect the current system, but also to strengthen and reform it to address the challenges that will shape our future. From the development of the Bretton Woods institutions, NATO and the UN, to more recent multilateral action to ban land mines, prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers, or to fight climate change, Canada has a long history of working with partners to develop and leverage rules-based multilateral mechanisms to address global challenges. Today we must reach out and rally as many partners as possible, to future-proof the system, so that it can address emerging issues and adapt to serve the interests of all states and all people.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for collective responses to complex global challenges, from the provision of vaccines to the entire global population, to the technological and economic transformations needed to address climate change. More broadly, Canada has a long and proud tradition of constructive involvement in the United Nations. This is why we co-chaired, in January, the UN peacebuilding fund replenishment conference and why we are working with partners to advance the UN reform agenda for making the UN a more efficient, transparent and accountable organization that remains an effective platform for advancing Canadian interests.

At the same time, Canada is a respected voice across other institutions and forums, many of which we were instrumental in developing, including NATO, the G7, the G20, la Francophonie, the Commonwealth, APEC and the Organization of American States, among others. Through all of these settings, Canada prioritizes the advancement and protection of human rights, and the push for gender equality. However, even as we work to revitalize international institutions, we may also need to create new collaborative forums where old ones no longer meet the challenge. For example, Canada is acting as co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition and co-founded the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, which convenes experts from science, industry and civil society, dedicated to the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence, grounded in human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation and economic growth.

Today we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to build on our past efforts. Seventy-three years ago, countries around the world came together to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which outlines the fundamental rights and freedoms to which we are all entitled.

While much progress on human rights has been achieved since 1948, events of 2020 reminded us that there is still a long way to go. The multilateral human rights system remains a critical tool in pursuing our common goal of ensuring the protection and promotion of human rights for all. For Canada, it is one of the most important ways to engage in advancing human rights around the world. That is why Canada continues to actively engage in the UN human rights system, including through mechanisms such as the universal periodic review, where member states receive peer feedback on their human rights records every four years.

Canada is also proud to engage at forums like the UN General Assembly's third committee and the Human Rights Council, where we have led resolutions on ending child, early and forced marriage; ending violence against women and girls; and supporting human rights in Iran. Sadly, Canada and like-minded countries are continuing to witness the rising trend of anti-rights and gender equality backlash in these settings, but that only further underscores the need to progress and sustain dialogue.

In the face of this backlash and the challenges posed by COVID-19 around the world, including in Canada, human rights defenders, members of the media, volunteers, civic leaders, indigenous representatives and more are fighting for more inclusive and just societies. Many are doing so in the midst of shrinking civic space, including Internet shutdowns and other threats to freedom of expression.

Too many, especially too many women human rights defenders, are risking the safety of themselves and their families through the course of their work. Canada is continuing to listen to the experiences of these brave individuals and is investing in initiatives such as “Voices at Risk: Canada's Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders”, a publicly accessible resource meant for use by Canadian officials at home and abroad.

Around the world, Canada takes action with a clear understanding of its national interest and a commitment to stand firm in the defence of our most cherished values and principles. This requires that we work to advance gender equality through all of our international actions, both bilaterally and multilaterally. The rules-based system has been essential for promoting and supporting gender equality. Multilateral co-operation and the advancement of gender equality are closely linked.

The structures, goals, operations and resources of both regional and global institutions have a significant influence over how Canada and the world are able to take action in support of gender equality and human rights in a time of profound change, complex challenges and considerable opportunities. Canada will continue to play a constructive role in shaping the evolving global system for the benefit and prosperity of all Canadians.

I have a number of questions for the minister.

The pandemic knows no borders. The collaboration between countries during this pandemic illustrated the importance of diplomacy and cross-border co-operation. From PPE to vaccines to addressing various human rights crises, international cross collaboration has continued and deepened since 2020. The pandemic also illustrated the need to maintain and promote a rules-based international order. Throughout the crisis, our government has been engaging on the international stage, and ministers have regularly engaged with their counterparts around the world.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs recently resumed in-person diplomacy, while continuing to abide by all health and safety measures, and has attended the G7 and Arctic Council meetings. Could the minister tell us about Canada's priority at the Arctic Council meeting and what outcomes came out of the meeting? Also, could the minister can tell us about his meetings with his counterparts from the United States and Russia?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Chair, yes, I have just returned from the Arctic Council. The eight countries of the Arctic Council are really seized with the challenges of what is happening in the north, where climate change is causing the environment to change at an accelerated pace. It is, in fact, three times faster than the rest of the world. That has implications for transportation, biodiversity and the lives of the four million people who live around the Arctic regions of this country.

We reaffirmed that those were the priorities as we go forward. Sustainable development, understanding what is happening to the environment and focusing on the people who live in those regions, and who have been there for millennia, are the driving factors that have guided us in the past 25 years.

I had a bilateral meeting with Secretary Blinken, and among other things, we talked about our common purpose with respect to the Arctic region, the United States being one of the countries. I also spoke to my counterpart from Russia because Russia is taking over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council for the next two years. I am glad to report that, even though we have big differences of opinion on many subjects with Russia, it does have a strategic vision that aligns with the other seven members with respect to the next two years.

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, our government has spoken against the negative pattern of Russia's irresponsible and destabilizing behaviour, as well as its blatant disregard for human rights at home and abroad. Russia continues to repress any opposition voices. This includes Alexei Navalny and his supporters, who have been jailed, criminally prosecuted and continuously intimidated. Navalny himself recently ended his hunger strike but continues to be detained in jail, and the conditions of his detention continue to be the topic of international scrutiny.

Additionally, our government has continually expressed its deep concern about the large, ongoing buildup of Russian military forces on Ukraine's borders and the illegally annexed Crimea. These large-scale troop movements, without prior notification, represent threatening and destabilizing activities. Canada has been supportive of Ukraine's posture of restraint.

Can the minister tell us what Canada is doing to address Russia's destabilizing behaviour? What can the minister tell us Canada is doing to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Mr. Chair, I had a very frank discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov about two issues that have been very much in the news these days and for which Canada has imposed sanctions on Russia. These are its troop buildup around Ukraine, the fact that it illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and has been very active in the Donbass on the eastern frontier of Ukraine, as well as its human rights record, especially with respect to Alexei Navalny, whom it first attempted to poison and is currently detaining. We had a very blunt conversation about that.

Canada is a strong ally of Ukraine. We have put approximately $800 million into Ukraine since 2014. Operation Unifier is involved with training Ukrainian troops, and we have assured Ukraine of our steadfast support against the illegal annexation and aggressive behaviour against it.

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, as a follow-up to that question, I was hoping the minister could elaborate on this: What type of sanctions has the Government of Canada imposed upon Russia at this point?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Mr. Chair, in total, Canada has currently 440-odd sanctions either in accordance with the Magnitsky sanctions or, as these are against individuals or entities, under the Special Economic Measures Act or the United Nations Act. These are sanctions against individuals and entities in Russia both in relation to what it has done in Ukraine as well as its human rights record, especially with respect to Alexei Navalny.

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, could the minister quickly update the House on what other countries or foreign nationals we have imposed Magnitsky sanctions on?

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC]

Mr. Chair, we have imposed sanctions, and we do this judiciously against a number of countries, whether Belarus recently because of the fraudulent elections last year and the forced Ryanair landing there, or Iran because of its human rights record and sponsorship of terrorist organizations. There are some sanctions against the Democratic Republic of North Korea. I am going by memory here, but we have some in a number of other countries. I am not going to venture any others forth at this point because my memory is not that good.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Chair, I am going to start by asking some questions that I do not think will surprise the minister.

Canada's official development assistance continues to be well below the international standard. Canada currently invests approximately 30¢ for every $100 in gross national income. Under the Harper government, aid levels were almost exactly the same as the level we are at now.

Of course, I am very curious about what happened to the Prime Minister's promise that Canada was back. Does the minister have a plan to increase aid levels to get to the 0.7% that Canada has promised for decades, or will we continue to see a Liberal government that fails to meet these promises, just as we saw the Conservative government do?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of International Development]

Mr. Chair, as my colleague knows, Canada's ODA/GNI ratio is currently 0.31%, which is the highest it has been since 2012. In fact, on a volume basis it is higher than it has ever been. That includes a 2018 commitment to increase our ODA by $2 billion, which is going through, as well as the additional $1.7 billion we raised specifically for the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Chair, can the minister tell me why Canadian organizations, particularly small and medium-sized organizations, those that are run by Canadians located in communities across our country, get such a small proportion of the aid envelope? What is the plan to increase that proportion?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for her advocacy. I know she has worked for a long time in this sector.

I would note that we have actually increased the proportion of aid going to organizations based in Canada. When we came into office, it was just over $600 million a year. It is now over $970 million a year. We have also created a $100-million window for small and medium-sized Canadian-based organizations that work in international development. The first window has approved 40 of these, and there is another window that is currently seeking proposals. We will continue to work with our wonderful international—

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We will go back to the hon. member.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Chair, in 2020, the government responded to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis by allocating around $1.4 billion toward the global COVID-19 response. This year, the United Nations is warning of “famines of biblical proportions” in 20 countries, affecting 20 million people. Against this backdrop, budget 2021 foresees only $375 million of additional funding.

Does the minister have reason to believe the pandemic is over, or has Canada decided not to answer global humanitarian calls?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Chair, of course we have not. The $1.7 billion that we provided and mobilized over the course of the past year is continuing to respond right now. In fact, in India, UNICEF provided 1,400 oxygen cylinders from that money that Canada helped provide over the course of the past year.

The $375 million is in addition to that, and this means that Canada is now one of only two countries to pay their fair share to the ACT-Accelerator. Canada remains committed, and we will continue to respond effectively and appropriately to the global response.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Chair, the minister launched the “together for learning” campaign and has committed to refugee education, yet neither of these commitments was mentioned in budget 2021. Are there plans to back these development commitments with financial resources?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Chair, as the member knows, we launched a $40-million call for proposals alongside the launch of the “together for learning” campaign. We are doing significant advocacy work around the world to work with partner countries to ensure that refugees in their borders have access to education, and we will continue to do this work. We are a strong supporter of education—