Mr. Speaker, I agree that we should be doing more in terms of the family reunification program and the priority processing of files, among other things.
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Committees of the House December 12th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I agree that we should be doing more in terms of the family reunification program and the priority processing of files, among other things.
Committees of the House December 12th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying that the situation in Syria is worrisome. People all over are worried right now. They are worried that the situation will spread and affect other countries in the area. But above all, this is an absolutely horrible and worrisome situation for Syrians themselves.
We are talking about 30,000 civilians who have been killed since the start of the events, countless people injured, homes destroyed, hunger, cold and fear. Fear is a very big factor in this situation.
I want to quote Mariam Hamou, from the Syrian community in London. When she appeared before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, Ms. Hamou said:
Torture has been reported in every city and town and affects every family. I do not want to get into the chilling details of what goes on, but I will share with the House one story that just sends chills down my spine. Women are being systematically raped in Syria.
Beyond the dead and wounded, it is a matter of human rights violations and sheer terror. We must put an end to what is going on, as the member from Ottawa Centre said a little earlier in this debate. We must continue diplomatic efforts and put all the necessary pressure on both the countries that think like us and those that do not. We must also do more to help.
We were all pleased to learn today that Canada would increase assistance for refugee camps in the surrounding countries, and we hope that this assistance will continue, because the situation continues and is getting worse and worse with winter approaching. I will come back to this issue a bit later.
As for Syrians in Syria, I would like to quote Faisal Alazem, who lives in Montreal in my region. This is what he told the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development:
Domestically, many members of the Syrian Canadian community are worried about the fate of their families in Syria or those exiled out of Syria, and they therefore request that in keeping with Canada's long-standing tradition of concern for the displaced and persecuted, our Canadian government facilitate bringing their family members to join them in Canada. Many members of the Syrian Canadian community are concerned that no priority processing or family reunification program is in place to assist their families affected by the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Such measures were taken in 2007 for Iraq; they were taken for Algeria; and they were taken in 2010 for Haiti, after the earthquake.
He asked this question, and we did as well: why is there no priority program? We were told that the process had been expedited slightly. Yet, I remember that no effort was spared after the earthquake in Haiti. The government created a special program, and everyone worked together to bring people home and reunite families as quickly as possible.
In keeping with our long-standing Canadian tradition, why can we not do the same thing for Syria?
As Faisal Alazem said, it is important to the people of Syria and it is also important to the people living in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. The United Nations predicts that by the end of the year, which is just around the corner, there will be 700,000 refugees living in neighbouring countries.
As I was saying earlier, winter has arrived. Some people believe that winter over there is not so bad. This morning it was 3oC in Aleppo. When you live in a house that is not built to Canadian standards, or in a tent, and it is 3oC, that is pretty cold. And life is very difficult with children who are malnourished, frightened and traumatized.
Yes, we are helping Syria. I was pleased to learn today that we will provide more aid. We were all pleased. However, these efforts must be sustained. We must also work with other countries and encourage them to provide additional aid. This is an urgent matter, and we must not allow this opportunity to save lives to pass us by.
Committees of the House December 12th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we are of course all very concerned about the situation in Syria. As my colleague mentioned, the situation in the camps around the country, along with threats and fear of the use of chemical and biological weapons against civilians are very worrying. Just today, heavier weapons and more offensive weapons were used against the civilian population.
Aside from the fact that people are living in refugee camps outside of Syria, and beyond their fears for the future, the situation inside the country is still absolutely tragic. Even though options are difficult and limited from many points of view, there is one thing we could do: we could facilitate family reunification and set up a special program for Syria, as we have done for many other countries, such as Iraq and Haiti, so these people can quickly come to Canada.
I would like to ask my honourable colleague why the Government of Canada is taking so long to move in this direction.
International Cooperation December 7th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, my Bill C-398 would have been a simple way to reform Canada's access to medicines regime and, yes, it could have saved lives.
Many experts and high-profile organizations, such as Doctors Without Borders and UNICEF, among others, are saying so.
Bill C-398 would have allowed us to do more at no cost to taxpayers.
Will the Conservatives admit that they made a mistake by voting against Bill C-398?
Will they finally work with us to save lives in Africa and elsewhere?
International Cooperation December 7th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, while CIDA is working on projects that are supposed to improve the social responsibility of mining corporations abroad, here at home the government is cutting funding for the Centre for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility. Once again the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.
How can CIDA be a world leader when, at home, the Conservatives are making a mockery of our corporate social responsibility strategy?
International Volunteer Day December 7th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, Wednesday was International Volunteer Day.
In my riding, as in ridings across the country, many people give their time and expertise to support various causes in their communities. Thousands of people also volunteer in developing countries to help eradicate poverty, provide health care and education, and support democratic development.
I am referring to organizations such as SUCO, the Solidarité Union Coopération, which aims to build solidarity between peoples, as well as citizen participation, in order to create sustainable development based on egalitarian relationships. There is also Canada World Youth, which enriches the lives of young people who want to become true citizens of the world.
It is because of the hard work and solidarity of such organizations and their volunteers that we will be able to build a better world for one and all.
International Co-operation December 5th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of International Cooperation truly understood his files, he would know about the Paris Declaration principles. He would know that CIDA's aid effectiveness practices are founded on these principles. Yesterday, at the parliamentary committee, he candidly admitted that he is not familiar with these principles.
How can Canadians have confidence in a government whose ministers do not know what they are talking about?
International Co-operation December 3rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, Bill C-398 proposed simple changes to Canadian legislation, which could have saved thousands of lives at no cost to taxpayers. A number of Conservative members caved in to pressure from the Prime Minister's Office and refused to send the bill to be examined in committee, even though a similar bill was passed by the House in the last Parliament.
Why did they vote against streamlining the system, thereby refusing to save lives?
International Co-operation November 29th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, no comment.
The fact is, the Conservatives' entire approach to international assistance is all wrong. I am not even sure if the Minister of International Cooperation really understands what his department is responsible for. CIDA's mandate is to coordinate Canada's efforts to help people living in poverty. It is not meant to be an investment outpost for mining companies.
Does the minister understand that the Department of International Trade is responsible for promoting our trade interests, but that CIDA is responsible for fighting poverty?
International Co-operation November 29th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank everyone on both sides of the House who voted for the bill to save lives in developing countries by amending Canada's access to medicines regime.
However, it is unfortunate that more members did not have the courage to stand up to defend that bill. I also condemn the Conservatives' misinformation campaign.
In future, will they stop playing partisan politics and start co-operating with us in order to save lives?