André Ouellet

[Burundi, April 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, let me simply remind the hon. member what Canada has done in recent weeks and months to avoid a crisis which could reach proportions similar to the one which occurred in Rwanda.

First, the Secretary of State responsible for Latin America and Africa personally travelled to Bujumbura to participate in a meeting to find solutions to the refugee problem.

Second, Canada tabled a resolution which was supported by all the ministers attending a conference of the Francophonie, which was held in France, and where it was decided to send a ministerial delegation to Burundi to try to work out a solution with local authorities.

Third, the Canadian government is subsidizing NGO's, particularly the International Red Cross, in their efforts to help the civilian populations affected by the conflict.

[Cida, April 5th, 1995]

-that is the standards which were in effect at CIDA when the Leader of the Opposition was a member of the Conservative government. These criteria have not changed. They are still the same as when the opposition leader was a member of the previous government.

Mr. Saada is competent, he does an excellent job and he is being paid for the work he is carrying out.

[English]

[Cida, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that the contract was awarded in accordance with the established criteria-

[Cida, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it-

[Cida, April 5th, 1995]

He is not impressing his voters with this kind of accusations.

[Cida, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell the hon. member, who got elected the last time, that he had better be good and ready, because next time he will not get re-elected.

[Cida, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, numerous organizations, in Quebec in particular, but also across Canada, do outstanding work in international development. I am thinking of OXFAM Québec, the Léger foundation, the Lajoie foundation and many other organizations carrying out worthwhile development projects abroad.

What we are saying is that we will not only continue to support but in fact increase our support to these organizations in their development programs abroad. We hope that, as far as public awareness is concerned, this work can continue without Canadian organizations taking money that should normally go to the poorest of the poor in the neediest countries.

[Cida, April 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has to understand that choices had to be made and it was decided to focus on poorer countries. In

that context, CIDA was right of course in deciding to stop subsidizing public awareness organizations here, in Canada, because, if they realize how important public awareness of development assistance is, they do not have to be paid to do the job.

[Burundi, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I just said to the hon. member that, even though the Burundi ambassador may have made such a request, Burundi government officials did not.

I just got back from a meeting of ministers of the Francophonie, where the Burundi situation was discussed and where we heard from a representative of the government of Burundi. What that government official asked for, and what we will do, is this: first, send a ministerial mission to attempt a reconciliation; second, send a group of experts to help local authorities solve their problems; third, provide humanitarian assistance, asCanada is always prepared to offer, to non-governmental orga-

nizations helping the civilian population affected by the conflict.

[Burundi, April 4th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will understand that any solution to the precarious situation in Burundi must absolutely be based on a reconciliation of the parties involved.

This is why the Union of African States, as well as the Francophonie, which met in Paris last week, decided to send ministerial missions to meet with the parties to try to make them understand that reconciliation is essential. We are confident that these preventive diplomacy efforts will give positive results.

The hon. member is seeking a military solution, but that is not what government authorities want. The hon. member's suggestion has not been made by government authorities. The solution proposed by the ministers of the Francophonie is precisely the one requested by the Burundi government official.