Anita Vandenbeld

[Gender-Based Violence, November 29th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, this week, I attended the launch of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence at Ottawa City Hall, hosted by GRAN advocates, Interval House of Ottawa and the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women. We joined together to light buildings in purple, including City Hall and the Peace Tower, to symbolize our determination to end violence against women.

For the dedicated organizations and volunteers leading these efforts, activism is not limited to 16 days. It is 365 days a year. Our national action plan to end gender-based violence and our feminist international assistance policy provide funding to frontline organizations doing the hard work to support survivors and make real change. At a time when demeaning language and objectification of women is becoming normalized, we stand in solidarity to say that this is not normal. Together, we can end gender-based violence.

[Wim ten Holder, November 22nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a pillar in our community, Wim ten Holder, who passed away on November 1.

Ottawans know Wim mostly as an entrepreneur and as the owner of Café WIM in the ByWard Market. He brought a little bit of Dutch gezelligheid and warmth to our community for more than two decades. Everyone who met him was struck by his wit and his charm.

Wim was born in the Netherlands in 1932. At the age of 18, he met the love of his life, Iris, and they immigrated to Canada. They were married for more than 67 years and had five children. Iris in fact worked in this place for 25 years in the committees section.

Wim was the president of the Netherlands-Canada Society, where he gave joy to many children by playing Sinterklaas, St. Nicholas, every year. Wim was also very well known and respected in his community of Britannia.

I ask the House to join me in giving sincere condolences to Wim's family.

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 19th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada, GAC, ministers.

With regard to part (a), on September 27, 2023, the Government of Canada publicly announced funding for two development assistance projects, valued at a total of $14 million, in support of Afghan refugees and host-communities impacted by the 2022 flood crisis in Pakistan. Of the total $14 million announced, $10 million in development assistance funding was provided by the Government of Canada and directly received by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, for project implementation efforts within Pakistan. Of the total $14 million announced, $4 million in development assistance funding was provided by the Government of Canada and directly received by the World Health Organization, WHO, for project implementation efforts within Pakistan. None of the $14 million announced by the Government of Canada was provided to or received by other recipients.

With regard to part (b), the funds provided to UNHCR by the Government of Canada supported essential services for Afghan refugees and host communities grappling with the flood crisis in Pakistan. The $10 million in development assistance funded a bilateral Government of Canada project entitled “Essential Services to Afghan Refugees and Host Communities in Pakistan”. The Government of Canada allocated the full $10 million in development funding to this project. It is fully administered directly by UNHCR in Pakistan.

With regard to part (c), the development funding provided by the Government of Canada to WHO was in support of health services to Afghan refugees and host communities in flood affected areas in Pakistan. The $4 million in development assistance supported the project entitled “Health Assistance for Afghan Refugees and Host Communities in Pakistan”. This project received the full $4 million allocation. It is administered directly by WHO in Pakistan.

With regard to part (d), project funds were directly provided by the Government of Canada to UNHCR and WHO for programming delivered to support Afghan refugees and host-communities located within Pakistan. Global Affairs Canada exercises due diligence to oversee and monitor project implementation and delivery to ensure the effective use of Canadian funds for approved purposes. These efforts include, but are not limited to, visiting project implementation sites in Pakistan, meeting with project partners and beneficiaries in Pakistan and requiring that programing partners provide the Government of Canada with project financial and results reporting. In addition, the Government of Canada includes anti-terrorism clauses in its funding agreements with humanitarian and development partners to prevent funds from being diverted.

The links referenced are as follows. The Government of Canada news release, NR, project announcement, dated September 27, 2023, is at https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2023/09/canada-announces-funding-to-help-afghan-refugees-and-host-communities-impacted-by-last-years-flooding-in-pakistan.html. Global Affairs Canada’s project browser link for UNHCR implemented project information, last updated in September 2024, is at https://w05.international.gc.ca/projectbrowser-banqueprojets/project-projet/details/p012289001. Global Affairs Canada’s project browser link for WHO implemented project information, last updated in September 2024, is at https://w05.international.gc.ca/projectbrowser-banqueprojets/project-projet/details/p011526001.

[Recognition of Military Service, November 8th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, this Remembrance Week, we do more than remember those who sacrificed for our country; we also remember why they served.

My father's family was in the Dutch resistance during World War II. He was just a little boy, but he never forgot the liberation. My father got his first candy from a Canadian soldier. Particularly today, after what happened last night in Amsterdam, it is more important than ever that we learn the lessons of history and never again allow xenophobia and hatred to take hold.

We need to defend and protect our pluralism, democracy and shared humanity. For all of those who served, for the women who had to fight just to stand shoulder to shoulder, for indigenous veterans who faced discrimination, for 2SLGBTQI+ veterans who were purged, for Persian Gulf War veterans who are still fighting for recognition, for those who came home with visible and invisible wounds and for those who never came home at all, we honour and thank them. Lest we forget.

[Light the Night, November 1st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of my constituent Josephine Crone. At just 20 years old, Josephine received the life-changing diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Josephine, like so many, is a warrior, a quiet hero whose strength shines through even the darkest days. Her journey mirrors that of thousands of Canadians battling blood cancers. In 2024 alone, an estimated 6,600 Canadians will hear this difficult diagnosis. Last Saturday, I attended the Light the Night walk, where Josephine and others brought faces and stories to these numbers, showing us the courage, hope and heart behind each statistic.

I am committed to a future where the golden lights honouring those we have lost continue to inspire unwavering support for patients, survivors and the loved ones who walk beside them in this fight, and where more white lights of survival shine brightly.

[World Polio Day, October 24th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Polio Day. Today, we renew our collective resolve for a world where no child suffers from this paralyzing and deadly disease.

Through efforts of organizations like Rotary International, we have successfully reduced polio cases by 99% since 1979, with three billion children vaccinated.

To guarantee that we meet the objective of completely eradicating polio, Canada has pledged an additional $151 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Let us honour the tireless efforts of the health workers and the 20 million volunteers who have journeyed to the most remote corners of the world, in 200 countries, delivering not just vaccines, but hope. Let the end of polio be not only a goal, but a legacy.

[Committees of the House, October 24th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague and I were on the status of women committee and the women in sport study; we heard horrifying stories of what was happening to children, to young girls, to the survivors. I want to thank her for talking about our committee recommendations. Our government is already acting on many of them, including creating a commission, the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, and the sport integrity framework.

How does my hon. colleague think we can work together more, with all parties, to make sure that the voices of these courageous survivors of all the abuse in sport are heard?

[Foreign Affairs, October 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the rapid and unimpeded access of humanitarian relief for the more than two million civilians in Gaza is critical. UNRWA plays a critical role in delivering humanitarian assistance and essential services to Gaza and the West Bank. There are 123 countries that think the same and have signed on this year to a statement of shared commitments to UNRWA.

Canada will continue to work with UNRWA and other donors to ensure they implement the 50 recommendations of the review headed by former foreign minister Catherine Colonna. The review also found that UNRWA had sound governance and stronger neutrality mechanisms than other UN organizations.

Canada's assistance is subject to our robust enhanced due diligence process to ensure that no funding is diverted. We assess UNRWA to be an indispensable partner in aid delivery in Gaza during this dire humanitarian crisis.

[Foreign Affairs, October 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, of course, we continue to unequivocally condemn the brutal terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Canada also continues to support Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The allegations that UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 attacks were troubling. Following these allegations, the UNRWA immediately and proactively dismissed the employees who were named and co-operated fully with the investigation and review called for by the UN Secretary-General. The UNRWA has also continued to strengthen its neutrality mechanisms.

On March 8, 2024, Canada announced that it would resume funding to UNRWA. This decision was taken in light of the serious and significant reviews under way and the steps undertaken by UNRWA to address allegations and reinforce its neutrality mechanisms. Canada had seen the interim report of the investigation being done by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services and was satisfied that there was no significant obstacle to resuming aid as the named employees were no longer work for the agency. Other donors also came to this conclusion shortly thereafter and resumed funding to UNRWA before the ongoing review and study were finished. When resuming funding, Canada and other donors also considered the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the significant need for increased assistance. It is also important to recall that UNRWA provides up to 60% of all humanitarian assistance in Gaza, and its systems are essential for delivery of aid by other partners.

Reports that UNRWA is requesting that its employees be shielded from persecution by invoking their diplomatic immunity are false. These media reports conflate the initial investigation into the alleged participation of UNRWA staff in the October 7 attacks with a lawsuit filed in the United States against UNRWA and some of its senior officials.

We are aware that an UNRWA staff member was reportedly killed in an Israeli air strike in Lebanon on Monday, September 30. At the time of his death, the UNRWA employee had been on administrative leave without pay since March, following allegations that he had links to Hamas. The employee denied being a member of Hamas, but was nevertheless being investigated by UNRWA's internal investigation unit at the time of his death. Detractors incorrectly asserted the employee was subsequently reinstated.

UNRWA reports that throughout the investigation, the employee denied his affiliation to Hamas. The first time that UNRWA received confirmation of his role in Hamas was on Monday, September 30, 2024, when it was confirmed by Hamas. This case underscores UNRWA's diligence in responding to information about alleged activities by staff that are incompatible with their role as UN employees. We acknowledge the other UNRWA employees who have been killed in this crisis and are concerned about the continuing attacks against UNRWA personnel.

The work of UN agencies and trusted humanitarian actors in Gaza is fundamental to ensuring that the large number of civilians in need receive aid. Canada continues to be a major funding provider for trusted humanitarian organizations so that they can carry out their important work.

[Finance, October 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the numbers speak for themselves. I am very proud to be part of a government that has a plan to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to succeed and build a good, middle-class life. Ongoing investments like the ones I outlined are making life affordable for Canadians, and investments in economic growth and competitiveness are showing results. Canada has the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, and this is recognized by our AAA credit rating.

This shows that our efforts to make life more affordable for Canadians are paying off.