Deepak Obhrai

[Situation in Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, some of the statements made in the member's speech were totally out of context.

My colleague gave a speech giving all the details of what this government has done regarding exactly what the member has been complaining about. It sounds to me like the NDP is selectively deaf and did not hear anything. My colleague talked about family reunification. He talked about expediting immigration. He talked about giving more capacity to our immigration office in Beirut. We are expediting everything that the member is talking about. Of course, violence is a very bad thing, but none of that registered with the NDP, and there she went with her emotional speech talking about all these things.

If the member really wants to have a debate, she should listen to what the government has done and then critique it, but do not come at it totally blind and not for one minute accept what has been said by my colleague about immigration. Members are totally blank on the other side.

Not only that, but this is a debate on Syria, and the member was talking about China, which, of course we told them about, but that does not register.

I sit here and wonder what we are doing here tonight. The government is giving all the information, but what do we get from the NDP? It is a totally selective blank, and then the member goes on about other things in her speech.

[Situation in Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the other parliamentary secretary for a very good question.

Of course, we were very happy to see that Secretary of State Kerry had gone to Russia and that Russia and the U.S.A. were engaged in talks to bring a solution to this horrible situation in Syria. Of course, I am one who is watching now to see what will happen next at the Security Council.

If there was one word at the Security Council, the message to Assad would be very clear. It would be that the whole international community is opposed to what he is doing, and that would be the strongest message. Assad and his people would get it, and that would hopefully bring him back to the table. All of us are looking for peace in that country.

[Situation in Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that we closed down our embassy in Damascus. That was to protect our diplomats, which is a priority for this governmentm, but I would like to tell the hon. member that we work with our allies all across the world, getting information and talking to them, so we are plugged in. We are getting information with all other allies on the ground. We have a very strong network of co-operation with our allies and we get up-to-date information as to what is happening on the ground.

However, we have to take a cautionary note of everything, and we will make a decision based on what facts we have at that given time.

[Situation in Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I stated previously, I do agree with the NDP opposition critic that it is a human tragedy. We must work with everyone who can bring peace and stability to Syria.

To answer the member's question, what Canada is doing most importantly is supporting accountability efforts to help ensure that the reports of war crimes, including cases of rape as a tool of war, can be investigated and that those who are responsible are eventually brought to justice. This is the best we can do, to ensure that those who are responsible cannot escape justice. That is what Canada is doing with the accountability process.

[Situation in Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, once free of Assad's iron grip, the people of Syria must not find themselves further suppressed by those who seek to impose a new tyranny, create sectarian strife, or threaten Syria's neighbours. The opposition must do more to marginalize and weed out extremists. We, as responsible nations, must think long and hard before we consider arming the opposition.

As retired Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie said in today's Globe and Mail, “once you flood the area with such weapons, you have no idea where they'll end up, and no way of getting them back”. He said it is “the last thing you want to do”.

We agree with him 100%. Certainly Canada has been very clear from the outset of this crisis that we would take a deliberate, considerate and thoughtful approach to all matters relating to support for the Syrian opposition, even if it means that we stand alone among friends.

The situation in Syria is unlike conflict in other places in recent years. It is extremely complex and it is ever changing. While some members opposite would have us rush blindly to recognize the Syrian opposition just because other countries have done so, Canada, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have said, “Hang on. Let's exercise the appropriate caution and due diligence”.

That decision seems more wise the longer that this conflict drags on. Until and unless the SOC becomes more inclusive and does more to reject extremism, Canada will not recognize this body as the legitimate representative of all Syrians. However, this does not mean that we ignore those in the opposition who are truly committed to a better and brighter new Syria for all.

We continue to engage Syrian opposition actors at all levels. The Minister of Foreign Affairs himself has met with Syrian opposition leaders, both here in Ottawa and in the capitals around the world. In December of last year, he appointed a new representative to the Syrian opposition, based in Cairo. We do this to get the best possible first-hand information. We use such opportunities to push for an end to the violence, for a political solution to the conflict, and for a Syrian-led transition to a stable, democratic and pluralistic Syria.

In the new Syria there can be no room for terror and oppression. Respect for basic rights and human dignity must reign. To that end, Canada has actively supported civil administration by grassroots actors who have stepped up to run their own communities in the liberated areas where the regime is no longer providing services.

We have supported accountability efforts to help ensure that reports of war crimes, including cases of rape as a tool of war, can be investigated and that those responsible can eventually be brought to justice. We have supported independent media, which is vital, not only so the Syrians and the international community know the truth of what is occurring in Syria today but as a cornerstone of a future democratic state.

The international community must redouble efforts to support moderate influences in the Syrian opposition. Our government knows this. Canadians know this. We know the value of a functioning pluralistic society because we are fortunate to live in one. We must support those moderate democratic opposition forces that respect the rights of all religions and ethnic groups. These are the people who will help to create a new Syria in which all Syrians can truly participate and prosper.

The human toll in Syria has been tremendous, and the sacrifice of the opposition has been great. However, the future can be greater.

Canada will continue to work with those who are truly committed to supporting the best interests of all Syrians, as they work toward building for themselves a better and brighter future.

[Situation in Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Syrians are facing an increasingly desperate situation. More than 80,000 Syrians have been killed so far. Some 4.25 million people have been internally displaced, and over 1.4 million have become refugees. The situation ranks as one of the worst humanitarian disasters on the planet.

In our view, the best and perhaps the only hope to end the suffering of all Syrians is a political solution that would see Assad go, his regime making way for an inclusive Syrian-led transition to a new Syria in which all Syrians' rights are protected and where stability and democracy can thrive.

This ideal is a long way from becoming a reality at this time. It requires a united opposition that will be able to extend its authority over all actors inside Syria, an opposition that is inclusive of minorities, rejects terrorism and extremism, and is committed to building a stable, democratic, pluralistic state for all Syrians.

However, again, that is a long way off. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted earlier, the arrival of Salafists, jihadists and people with links to al Qaeda from other countries in even greater numbers only makes the challenge more difficult.

The Syrian Opposition Coalition, or SOC, has made some progress in its attempt to safeguard pluralism and a role for all citizens. The SOC was formed in November of last year in an effort to unite the main factions of the political opposition in a structure that could speak with a single voice. It is an important interlocutor for the international community and is slowly taking steps to bring order out of chaos in parts of Syria it claims to control.

However, much more needs to be done. The SOC continues to struggle with disunity and internal cohesion. In particular, moderates and ethnic and religious minorities do not yet feel adequately represented in the SOC. This is a matter of great concern to Canada.

If the opposition is to turn the page on the tyranny of the Assad regime, it must demonstrate to members of Syria's minority communities that they have a place in the Syrian opposition, that they will have a place in the new Syria, and that their rights will be protected.

Canada also urges the SOC to do more to condemn terrorism and extremism unequivocally.

The proliferation of extremist groups on the ground and an influx of foreign fighters have been of growing concern since the conflict in Syria began. Most deadly among these groups is Jabhat al-Nusra, or JN. Just last month, al Qaeda in Iraq, AQI, announced its merger with JN. We had long been aware of JN's links to AQI, but these had never previously been declared publicly. There is little sympathy among the people of Syria for JN's extreme brand of Islam. In fact, JN was quick to deny the merger, although it still pledged allegiance to al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with my colleague for Mississauga—Erindale.

Radical jihadists from across the region and around the world are taking advantage of the current crisis so they can establish a new base for—

[Situation in Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the question I want to put is very simple. While the member is talking about building capacity, let me say quite clearly and very strongly that this government is focused on helping to build capacity with the national council that can form the government and provide the stability he is talking about. Then we can all work together to do that.

[Situation in Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we have had three speakers in this debate, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Liberal Foreign Affairs critic, and now the NDP Foreign Affairs critic, and all of them have very passionately stated the human tragedy that is taking place in Syria. There is no question about it. All three have said that what is happening in Syria is totally unacceptable, and that is not just the war, but the misery that is going on there. All of them have given their personal examples to say and show where all these things are leading.

It is understandable that my colleague talks about engaging with the Canadian Syrian community, and that is indeed what we should be doing and indeed what this government is doing. I am sure all opposition members are engaged with the Syrian Canadian community, who because of their own personal interests have tremendous contributions they can make toward the tragic situation in Syria.

The NDP critic talked about engaging women's networks and setting that up, but at this time the security situation in Syria is disastrous. There is no room for civil society there. There is no room for people to do anything. What we need right now is to bring, as quickly as possible, pressure to stop the civil war, to stop the killing. Only then can we have these things.

I understand what he is talking about, that we want to build this thing—Mr. Speaker, we have 10 minutes for questions, so let me go.

[Foreign Affairs, May 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the member is saying, let me say very clearly that our government is providing real leadership on this issue. We have given a credit of up to $2 million for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Our government has given humanitarian assistance and continues to do that. Not only that, our government is also working on refugee settlement in this country.

Let me say this very clearly: our government is providing leadership on the issue of Syria. However, we are seriously concerned about the Assad regime killing its own people. To make it very simple, Assad must go.

[Foreign Affairs, May 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is concerned with the involvement of radical jihadists in the Syrian opposition groups and with evidence that they and the Assad regime are receiving outside assistance. As the minister said on the weekend, we need to see that the opposition has the broad representative support of the Syrian people, including religious minorities, before Canada would consider recognizing them.