Hélène Laverdière

[International Cooperation, February 12th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is really disturbing to see the minister's flippancy when presented with the opportunity to explain why CIDA gave $2 million to an anti-gay organization.

On Sunday evening, he wrote on Twitter that funding for Crossroads was suspended. However, yesterday, his office said that the funding was continuing. Funding Crossroads is giving tacit support to an openly anti-gay organization.

My question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Is this the kind of message that the government wants to send to Canadians and to the world?

[International Co-operation, February 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of results-based projects, the Conservative government has taken a dislike to organizations like KAIROS and Development and Peace that work for the welfare of people around the world and that have achieved tangible results in the field.

Meanwhile, religious groups that promote their own ideology have made inroads with these same Conservatives.

Has the time not come to stop making a mess of things at CIDA and issue clear, objective criteria for partnerships—

[International Co-operation, February 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of International Cooperation's office is a renowned black hole for funding proposals. In fact, very few see the light of day and those that are funded are increasingly out of step with Canadians. How did Crossroads, an anti-gay organization, get sign-off from the minister to operate in a country that Canada has strongly criticized for its persecution of its gay citizens?

[International Co-operation, February 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, when he appeared before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on December 4, 2012, the Minister of International Cooperation was unable to give us an idea of the number of projects he had approved under CIDA's partnerships program. He promised to forward that information to us.

Now it is February, and we are still waiting for his response.

What exactly is going on? Does the minister have something to hide or is the memo containing the information buried under a pile of projects awaiting approval on his desk?

[Conflict in Mali, February 5th, 2013]

Mr. Chair, in very difficult situations like the one happening now in Mali, women and children often suffer the most.

Not only is this true in time of conflict, war or military operations like the current one, but last year's events also showed it clearly: women and children often suffer the most. Our first thoughts should probably go to them.

My hon. colleague mentioned child soldiers earlier. Could she expand a bit on that?

[Conflict in Mali, February 5th, 2013]

Mr. Chair, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our honourable chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, with whom it is always a pleasure to work.

The hon. member talked about all the investments that we have made in a number of areas in Mali, including security, health, education and agriculture. If we want to look at this issue from an investment point of view, since this is the term that was used, if we want to ensure that all the efforts made are not wasted, it is important to help Mali overcome the crisis that it is facing, and we must do so right now.

Earlier today, another member said that the African-led International Support Mission to Mali, AFISMA, is a key mission. Why do we not provide financial support to this mission?

[Conflict in Mali, February 5th, 2013]

Mr. Chair, it really depends on how we define new money. I do not think that any money has been added to CIDA's budget to do that. My understanding from CIDA's official briefing is that this money comes from the humanitarian fund within CIDA. Therefore, it is an envelope of money which is there waiting and the minister can take money in that pool. No money has been added to the CIDA budget to my understanding for the $13 million.

[Conflict in Mali, February 5th, 2013]

Mr. Chair, yes, Mali has had difficulties and crises. It is also a country where the people have often taken charge of their own fate and tried to hold national consultations. But this country faces tremendous challenges. It is a large and extremely poor country with a deep divide between the north and the south. It is very complex. And that is the key point because not only is there is a lack of will, but I get the impression that there is also a lack of understanding.

I will go beyond the member's question and not speak exclusively about Mali. If we invest in promoting democratic institutions, we can often prevent or minimize conflicts. A small investment in an organization such as Rights and Democracy, which was internationally recognized, paid significant dividends in preventing these conflicts, social issues and security issues. And these security issues could potentially affect all of us. They need to be prevented.

Whether we are talking about foreign affairs, international co-operation or some other issue, this government does not seem to understand the concept of prevention.

[Conflict in Mali, February 5th, 2013]

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for his excellent question. I would like to respond with a metaphor.

Imagine that we had invited people over to eat a number of times and we felt that we had a good and supportive friendship with them. Then one day, their house burns down and we give them three carrots, saying that we already fed them three months ago. That is unimaginable. We did things in the past. Now there is a crisis and we are sitting on the sidelines doing nothing. That is disturbing.

It is even more disturbing that Canada is not showing solidarity and support for a country in need that is experiencing crisis after crisis, and also that our international reputation and influence are losing ground.

[Conflict in Mali, February 5th, 2013]

Mr. Chair, I would like to make a few very brief comments.

Basically, we are taking people off the ground. Yet we need people, human beings, to be there, people who are involved, engaging in dialogue, and who can observe and report on the situation and influence events. But those resources are being cut off. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs is also telling us that the Conservatives have not reduced funding to Africa. It is too bad that it is not my turn to ask him a question, because he could go back and look at the numbers in the latest budgets and note that CIDA's budget has been frozen for years and that significant cuts were made in the last budget. If he were to look at where these cuts have been made, he would see that they have been made primarily at the expense of African countries.

I am very pleased to learn that a building built largely with Canadian money is being used by AFISMA, but this kind of retroactive support for this African effort really leaves me perplexed. I will say no more, for I wish to remain courteous.

As for Japan, indeed, it was not a major contributor in Mali. Japan contributes a great deal to international co-operation. Mali does not have any particular historical ties to Japan, but nevertheless, Japan still gave $120 million, while Canada gave a measly $13 million.