Josée Verner

[International Cooperation, October 2nd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his excellent question.

Last week, I signed a memorandum of understanding with France on cooperation for development, which is a first for our two countries. The agreement will enable France and Canada to work on joint initiatives in Haiti and Africa, where our two countries are particularly active and involved. We will collaborate in areas of education, governance, the environment, and gender equality. This MOU will help strengthen the effectiveness of our aid.

[Afghanistan, September 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows full well that Kandahar is a fragile province where progress is very gradual. We are able to achieve results there by working collaboratively and because the Department of National Defence ensures the safety of our humanitarian workers.

I would like to know when the member opposite last met with soldiers who served there and listened to their success stories.

[Afghanistan, September 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, each reconstruction team is made up of 40 to 200 people, including civilian and military personnel. In Kandahar specifically, the number varies from 90 to 113 people. There are three people from CIDA specifically.

[Afghanistan, September 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to the member for the Bloc Québécois that CIDA has been praised by a senior official of the World Bank for the efficiency of its aid and its follow-up procedures for ensuring that the money actually gets to the people.

Alond with CIDA, we have put measures in place. We also increased our budget last spring so that alternatives can be offered to Afghan farmers, so that children can go to school, so that clinics and other infrastructure can be built in order to help the Afghan people take charge of themselves.

[Official Languages, June 22nd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the government recognizes the importance of the Commissioner of Official Languages' role, and the process is underway to find a replacement.

[Questions on the Order Paper, June 21st, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is as follows: a) Canada supported a project with Súmate in 2005-06; through the Canada Fund for Local initiatives (CFLI) in Venesuela; Canada provided a contribution of CAD$22,000 to a project which had a total budget of CAD$ 55,000.

b) There is no planned funding for Súmate in 2006-07.

c) For all organizations receiving CIDA funding there are regular meetings with representatives in the context of follow-up on project activities. Most of these meetings are held with the Canada Fund Coordinator.

d) In the evaluation of this project, Canada considered Súmate to be an experienced NGO with the capability to promote respect for democracy, particularly a free and fair electoral process in Venezuela. The project goal is to allow Súmate to develop a follow-up and evaluation system to measure democratic principles in Venezuela.

e) The final report for the project is due July 1, 2006; the assessment on achievement of project results will be done at that time.

[International Aid, June 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this government is a great defender of the international development assistance program. We make sure this assistance is sent to the least fortunate.

That said, in all our development assistance programs, we fully respect the definitions established by the international community for public development assistance.

[Official Languages, June 12th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate our government’s unwavering commitment to the linguistic minorities of Canada.

That being said, I would tell my hon. colleague from the Bloc that he should speak with his own colleague, the member for Papineau, who just last week at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages expressed her scorn for anglophone colleagues who are making an effort to learn French.

In my view, the Bloc Québécois is proving once again that it is not inclusive and not open-minded toward people who are making an effort to learn French.

[International Aid, June 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to say that our government was one of the first to respond to the urgent need of the affected population. Today I am announcing that in addition to the $2 million we have already given, our government will give another $4 million in humanitarian aid and to help rebuild and redevelop the country affected by this disaster.

[Indonesia, May 29th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, our government immediately set aside $2 million to aid the disaster victims. In the hours that followed, $500,000 was allocated to the International Red Cross Federation. As well, thanks to our efficient method of funding the world food program, it was able to provide assistance immediately following the earthquake.