Peter Kent

[Rights & Democracy, March 31st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague should know that Rights & Democracy is an arm's length organization. The government is not involved in the organization's day to day activities.

It is true the House foreign affairs committee is currently studying Rights & Democracy issues and I understand the committee will hear the board's point of view tomorrow.

I would like to say that the government has appointed an extremely capable and competent individual as president of Rights & Democracy.

[Aboriginal Affairs, March 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question, but I fear she exaggerates. The question has been completely explained, but I will add that building a strong Canadian north is an essential part of building our nation. The government clearly understands the potential of the north more than any other government before it.

While the previous government talked an awful lot about the Arctic, we are taking action.

[Aboriginal Affaires, March 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the answer remains the same.

Northerners do indeed play a fundamental role in Canada's Arctic sovereignty strategy. This includes indigenous peoples and all others who live in the Arctic.

[Aboriginal Affaires, March 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, we have been through this several times this week, but for my colleague's information, this meeting was convened for nations that have coastlines along the Arctic Ocean.

The Arctic Council chair, Denmark's foreign minister, will brief those members, and of course, our Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke with our territorial premiers and the indigenous leaders and will debrief them after this meeting.

[Arctic Summit, March 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition's hand-wringing is completely unnecessary. Northerners play a very important role in determining the future of our Arctic waters. As I already explained, the Arctic Council chair, the foreign minister of Denmark, will brief other members of the council in due course.

[Arctic Summit, March 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, as I told the House yesterday, this meeting was called for those states that share a coastline on the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Council chair, Denmark's foreign minister, will brief other members of the Arctic Council. The Minister of Foreign Affairs briefed Canada's indigenous people before the meeting and will be talking to them afterwards.

[Foreign Affairs, March 29th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, where the government does happen to agree with Robert Fowler when he says that “the Liberals don't stand for much in the way of principle and will endorse anything and everything which might return them to power”.

With regard to my colleague's question, the government is proud to stand with strong democracies and against those groups and states that embrace tyranny, hate and terror.

[Aboriginal Affairs, March 29th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, northerners do play a fundamental role in Canada's Arctic sovereignty strategy. The Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke with territorial leaders and leaders of Arctic indigenous organizations before the summit. Today's meeting is specifically for those states that share a coastline with the Arctic Ocean.

The Arctic Council chair and our Minister of Foreign Affairs will debrief other interested parties after the conference.

[Foreign Affairs, March 29th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her question, but I must say one thing.

Canada is committed to promoting international peace and security by working to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Canada's policy is rooted in its support of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation on Nuclear Weapons.

[International Aid, March 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member speaks from a position of ignorance, innocent ignorance perhaps.

I had the honour of visiting Chile last week for the inauguration. The capacity of this country, a virtual developed country, to respond is very different from that of the government of Haiti. We are awaiting the new government's direction and suggestion of how exactly our assistance might be delivered.