Debates of May 31st, 2021

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

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Madam Chair, what does the government plan to do about the situation in Tigray where there have been imprisonments, abuses and executions of civilians since November 2020, considering that Washington has recently taken measures against certain Eritrean and Ethiopian actors accused of fuelling the conflict?

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

Madam Chair, our Prime Minister has spoken to his counterpart, I have spoken to my counterpart, and the Minister of International Development has spoken to her counterpart. We clearly stated that Ethiopia must first tell the Eritrean forces to leave the Tigray region and provide access to the humanitarian aid that the citizens of Tigray—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Montarville.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Madam Chair, an Ontario court ruled that the destruction of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 by Iran was an act of international terrorism.

Does the government agree, and will it hold Iran accountable for this terrorist act?

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

Madam Chair, we have certainly taken note of the fact that the Ontario Superior Court declared it an intentional act.

At this time, we are committed to working with the other four countries that suffered a loss of human life to negotiate compensation for the victims' families with Iran. That process will begin soon.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Madam Chair, Canada's WHO funding is increasing from $18 million in 2020-21 to $20 million in 2021-22.

Given that the European Union recently asked Canada to contribute more, is that amount enough?

[Karina Gould, Liberal, Minister of International Development]

Madam Chair, we increased our contribution to the WHO this past year.

I announced more than $100 million to address the COVID-19 crisis. We are stepping up to address the COVID-19 crisis. That is very important.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Madam Chair, the Government of Canada is often inconsistent in its approach to international trade, in particular with respect to awarding contracts or export permits. The government's approach makes it seem as though there is a two-tier process that often puts Quebec companies at a disadvantage. This was the case with Pratt & Whitney Canada, for example, which has been waiting for permits to export aircraft engines to China for two years.

Why has the Government of Canada not yet issued these permits?

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

Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for his question.

I will get back to my colleague on this very specific question regarding the Pratt & Whitney engines to be exported to China.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Madam Chair, how does the Government of Canada interpret today's allegations that the U.S. spied on leaders of our European allies?

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

Madam Chair, I need some more details. I did not fully understand his question.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Madam Chair, it was today's top news story. The United States, potentially with the help of Denmark, allegedly spied on the communications of leaders of our European allies.

How does Canada interpret this rather worrisome news?

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

Madam Chair, I will have to get more information on this matter before I can respond.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Madam Chair, I would like to get back to Nathalie Morin.

The minister said that Ms. Morin's consular file is still open.

Is the minister aware that the Saudi government has apparently issued a travel ban for Ms. Morin and her children?

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

Madam Chair, we are very aware of Ms. Morin's situation, because we are in contact, and consular officials are closely monitoring this case. They are prepared to provide consular assistance if Ms. Morin requires it. We are following this file closely.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Madam Chair, I would like to come back to the matter of the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement.

Is the minister willing to consider products made in the occupied territories as not being Israeli products?

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

Madam Chair, I will have to get back to my colleague on that matter.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Chair, what a pleasure it is to be able to address the House. I found it very interesting listening to my colleagues, in particular the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade and of course the Minister of International Development. Listening to the ministers and knowing the background and passion they have for our country and the world, one cannot help but feel good knowing Canada is such a wonderful country to be in. We are a country that truly cares about what is happening around the world.

I want to address a couple of areas, with a special focus on trade.

Before I do that, when I was growing up a number of years back I used to watch hockey and was a Habs fan. We did not have the Winnipeg Jets back then. It was quite nice to see the Habs win this evening, which has already been referenced. The nicer thing is they are coming to my home city of Winnipeg where they will be playing my favourite team, the Winnipeg Jets. I will be rooting on whichever team wins that series for the Stanley Cup. I know Canadians from coast to coast to coast love hockey, and whatever team goes from Canada, rest assured Canadians will be behind the team saying “go team go”.

I started off by talking about foreign affairs. A number of years back, I was in the Philippines in a community known as Cebu, which is a very large city in the southern part of the Philippines. I was at the Canadian consular services office there, and on the wall, I saw a picture of an astronaut. That astronaut was in fact the first astronaut in space, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs. I mention that because earlier this evening someone made reference to the Minister of Foreign Affairs as maybe not having as much experience as he would have liked to have seen.

I have grown an immense amount of respect for the minister's understanding and appreciation of what is taking place around the world. I am very proud of the fact he has taken the time, as other ministers of foreign affairs have, to talk to me personally about areas of interest I have, whether it is India, and in particular the Punjab, or the Philippines and different related issues.

I understand and appreciate the diplomacy necessary when we talk about things like the Middle East, China or Iran. It is not an easy file to have, but I am very grateful to know my friend is in that position, because he excels. I feel very comfortable knowing Canada is in such a great position today.

The Prime Minister often talks about Canada's diversity being our strength. When I think of the world, I think of it in terms of Canada's diversity. We have people in Canada with ancestors from around the world, so when something happens in a country outside Canada, we have a group of people who are genuinely concerned and want to hear from the government. All in all, the government does a fantastic job in appreciating that fact.

I know for many Canadians, in particular immigrants, who have adopted Canada as their home that their home country, their country of birth, always remains in their hearts to a certain degree, and who can blame them? I have been blessed to being affiliated, as a parliamentarian for over 30 years, with a lot of good people.

These are people who I would classify as part of my inner circle and my group of friends of Filipino heritage, Punjabi-speaking heritage or Indo-Canadian heritage. Those are two communities that I am very proud of and very proud to represent, so I know, when things take place in countries like that or Ukraine or others, that I take the time to listen and to talk and share my thoughts. Even though Canada is a country of 37.5 million people, we carry a tremendous amount of clout around the world, and I believe that is something we all need to take very seriously, as I know that the current Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of International Trade and the Minister of International Development collectively do on our behalf, day in and day out.

Shortly after the 2015 election, there were a couple of things that really came to the forefront. One is that we are a government that genuinely cares and wants to see the middle class and those aspiring to be a part of it expanded and to be taken care. We were committed to working as hard as possible, and that is the reason we saw things like the Ukraine trade deal ratified as quickly as it was. Months after we were elected, it was signed off. It was the same with the CETA. What about the agreement in regard to the United States, Mexico and Canada, the Pacific agreement or legislation in regard to the World Trade Organization?

As a caucus, we have collectively recognized the true value of trade. Canada is a trading nation, a nation that is diverse and dependent on trade. For us to grow and prosper into the future, we need to keep focused on what is happening in the world around us, to come up with those progressive trade ideas and agreements, and to keep the diplomats talking, trying to fix where we can fix and trying to protect Canadian interests, wherever they might be in the world. Trade was important during the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why we saw a government take such a proactive approach to supporting small businesses.

One of my former bosses, the former government house leader, would say that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. We had to make sure that we supported small businesses, because many of those small businesses today are going to be major exporters in the future. That is why we had to develop programs to not only protect the individual Canadians by putting disposable income into their pockets, but we had to demonstrate that we could be in a better position to be able to, as the Prime Minister and ministers often say, build back better.

That is why we put in the investments that we did. That is why we have a minister responsible today for small businesses, who is being so proactive, and for international trade. Members should look at the agreement that was just achieved, and I know I speak on behalf of all my colleagues in regard to the United Kingdom agreement and the transitional period with which we have bought some time so that we can finalize something and so that we can continue to protect the interests of Canadian workers and Canada's economy and social fabric that we all love so dearly.

I think the Chair is already telling me that my time is expired, but I do have a question. Can I go ahead with the question, Madam Chair?

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The member has five minutes for questions and comments.

Questions and comments, the hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Chair, I was talking about trade. I would like to ask a question of the parliamentary secretary, who I know is a Montreal Habs fan. For the next few days, we might be off side a bit as I am cheering for Winnipeg.

We know that trade is very important. It is one of the ways we can support Canada's middle class and those good quality jobs. I wonder if the parliamentary secretary could provide her thoughts as to why it was so important we continued to protect businesses and be there in a real and tangible way for trade in Canada.

[Mary Ng, Liberal, Minister of Small Business]

Madam Chair, I am so pleased to have the opportunity to get at the heart of what the hon. colleague was talking about and the agreements we have negotiated across the world.

It is more than just the numbers that we talk about and how our trade agreements are providing access to 1.5 billion customers in the global marketplace. It is more than the fact that we are seeing more trade flow, even during this pandemic. It is about who trades. We are building back better and that means helping our small and medium-sized businesses, our women entrepreneurs, our Black business owners, indigenous entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs.

We have, throughout this pandemic, pivoted—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Unless the hon. parliamentary secretary who asked the question wants the hon. minister to continue, there will be another question right now.

The hon. parliamentary secretary to the government House leader.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Chair, I would ask the minister to finish her thoughts.

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

Madam Chair, I am so proud of Canada's trade agreements which are inclusive, helping more people trade. In these agreements, we have built out those inclusive provisions so we are providing that kind of framework for our small and medium-sized businesses, women entrepreneurs, indigenous entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs to grow and to scale up into those global markets.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Chair, there is one member of the House who has been in space. He, more than anyone else in the chamber, can realize just how small the world really is and the leadership potential that Canada can play in its development.

I wonder if the minister or his parliamentary secretary could provide some thoughts in regard to Canada's leadership role.