Deepak Obhrai

[Foreign Affairs, October 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this is a very complex family matter. Due to international law, Ms. Morin and her husband must resolve the custody before the children, who are all Saudi citizens, are able to return to Canada.

Not only that, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago. He met with the minister of foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia and brought this issue up with him. He also talked to the human rights commission of Saudi Arabia.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is engaged very heavily in this file and we hope it will resolve through the courts.

[October 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this government takes the issues of Canadians abroad very seriously. In all occasions we intervene when it is necessary and where it is required. However, in this particular instance, as I have stated before, it was under his government's watch that all these things happened. At the same time, I have asked him a simple question, does he know how many members of his own government have been sued by Mr. Abdelrazik in the court case.

As I have stated before, as a former justice minister, he should know that whatever he wants to say on this matter, it is not fair to comment when the matter is in front of the court. We will leave it at that.

[October 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to respond to the former justice minister in the former Liberal government.

This Conservative government came to power in 2006. Many of the questions that the hon. colleague is asking today are questions he himself and his colleagues should answer because they were the ones in government.

As a matter of fact, the hon. member stated that Abdelrazik has sued the Government of Canada. Mr. Abdelrazik has chosen to go through the court. If the hon. member sees who Mr. Abdelrazik has sued, he will find to his astonishment that it is members of his own government when the Liberals were in power. Therefore, many of the member's questions need to be addressed over there.

However, let us be very clear on this matter. Mr. Abdelrazik has taken the government to court. What is even more surprising is that as a former justice minister, the member should know that we cannot comment when a matter is in front of the court. In this new instance which he is talking about, let us say one thing quite clearly. Mr. Abdelrazik is in this country and all these things he is talking about are past. Mr. Abdelrazik has already launched a suit, and I am sure the member would agree it would be very prudent not to comment further on this case.

[Zimbabwe, October 22nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe announced that his party would be disengaging from the inclusive government.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai has since embarked on a regional tour of key Southern African Development Community capitals hoping to gather support that would pressure ZANU (PF) into honouring its commitment to implement the power-sharing agreement, the so-called global political agreement.

Canada continues to encourage regional leaders to use their influence to help resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Canada maintains targeted sanctions which send a clear message that Canada abhors the degrading of a legitimate democratic process and the continuing human rights violations in Zimbabwe. These sanctions target those in power and will not affect the Zimbabwean people.

Our government continues to act in the name of human rights and the rule of law abroad.

[Foreign Affairs, October 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, under section 32(2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, eight treaties of the International Maritime Organization and one treaty of the International Labour Organization.

Treaty number one: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78), Annex IV: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships;

Treaty number two: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78), Annex V: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships;

Treaty number three: Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78), done at London on September 26, 1997, Annex VI: Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships;

Treaty number four: International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001, done at London on October 5, 2001;

Treaty number five: International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995, done at London on July 7, 1995;

Treaty number six: International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, done at London on February 13, 2004;

Treaty number seven: Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, done at London on November 11, 1988;

Treaty number eight: Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, done at London on November 11, 1988.

Treaty number nine: Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, done at Geneva on February 23, 2006.

An explanatory memorandum is included with each treaty.

[Foreign Affairs, October 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as I have repeated on many occasions, our position on this matter has not changed. Mr. Khadr still faces very serious charges. We are awaiting the due process in the United States to see what President Obama will say. Until that time, I have no further comments on this issue.

[Situation in Darfur, October 7th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our government is deeply troubled by the situation in Darfur. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and many more displaced.

Our government has made Canada an international leader in supporting efforts to establish peace in Darfur. We are committed to strengthening the capacity of the African Union-United Nations hybrid peace operation in Darfur, called UNAMID, to help achieve these goals.

Today I am pleased to announce the delivery of Canadian-supplied, state-of-the-art armoured personnel carriers to peacekeepers who will be working in UNAMID. This is the second shipment, with more on the way.

Our government is also providing support, including training, as part of a package valued at over $35 million. Since 2006 our government has provided $646 million in support of sustainable peace and stability in Sudan.

[Foreign Affairs, October 6th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as this matter is before the courts, I cannot divulge details. The government said that it would undertake a review and a review has been undertaken.

Let me repeat it once again. We get thousands of requests for consular assistance and most of these requests do not reach the political level at all.

[Foreign Affairs, October 6th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just answered that question from the Leader of the Opposition. He should listen very carefully to what the Prime Minister said.

He said that the Government of Canada receives thousands of consular cases every day. Not every day, but in fact for every one minute there are three requests for assistance and most of these cases do not reach the political level.

[Committees of the House, October 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, does the member support what I said, that our main mission over there is to build the administration of Afghanistan, which is the army, the police, the judiciary and the remnants of an administration? Is that not what our main purpose is? Does she not agree with that and not with what the NDP members keep talking about of stopping the war, getting out of it? Does she agree that this is the main reason why we are there?