Stéphane Dion

[Foreign Affairs, April 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague is well aware that she is the one who is confusing the matter. I want to share a quote from a news story:

At the end of March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that he and government officials would examine whether the armoured vehicles exported to Saudi Arabia “comply with international laws, human rights and our national interests”.

If a journalist understood, why did my colleague not understand?

[Foreign Affairs, April 13th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, if the NDP's position is that we should have reneged on the Government of Canada's signature on a contract, I hope its members are prepared to say so in English in London. I hope our colleague from London—Fanshawe will also say so in London, because that was not their position during the election campaign.

Now, as for the export permits, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will grant them or deny them based on how the equipment is used. As long as the equipment is not used in any human rights abuses, as long as it is used in accordance with Canada's interests, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will honour the export permits. Otherwise, I will reverse my decision.

[Foreign Affairs, April 13th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, my colleague was confusing two different decisions.

The first one is to honour the signature on a contract. This is a contract that was signed in 2014. Her party, our party, and the Conservative Party committed to that decision to honour the signature.

The second one is about the export permits. I have the power to allow the export permits or to revoke them according to the behaviour of the county regarding human rights, on the use of the equipment. The equipment has not been misused since 1993. It is why, for now—

[Foreign Affairs, March 24th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, this question was posed by the member for Brome—Missisquoi, who is a tireless champion for Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog. He knows how important these lakes are to the entire region, and he is aware of their extreme beauty. That is why I would like to thank the Minister of Finance for the recent budget's investment of $7.5 million over five years in the most advanced scientific research. This will yield the best solutions for saving these lakes and making them clear, clean, and safe for people, in co-operation with our U.S. allies.

[National Defence, March 24th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a quote by General Vance, our Chief of the Defence Staff. He said:

We are a lawful party to an armed conflict against a non-state actor—that’s the legal terminology…

The so-called Islamic State wants to be recognized as a state, but it is not and never will be a state. That is why we are engaged in an armed conflict, and we are going to win the fight against this terrorist group.

[Foreign Affairs, March 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I will leave my colleagues to their twisted interpretations.

One thing is certain: Canada is a friend to Israel. It was not serving Israel in the least to completely cut off all ties to Iran and use the Italian embassy to engage with Iran. Such a policy made no sense, and we put an end to that nonsense. One thing that will never end is our support for Israel and our determination to impose sanctions when Iran steps out of line.

[Foreign Affairs, March 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, today is certainly the day to say that the threat of terrorism is a terrible danger to humanity.

All human civilization should be all together to fight terrorism, and today the people of Canada are shoulder to shoulder with the people of Belgium.

[Foreign Affairs, March 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I will leave my colleague to his interpretations, but the facts speak for themselves.

Canada just strengthened sanctions against Russia. We are doing so in solidarity with Ukraine and in concert with our allies. Instead of acting alone and being the only ones to use an empty chair tactic against Russia, we will engage with Russia in order to speak out on behalf of Ukraine and in favour of peace in the region.

[Foreign Affairs, March 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, will my colleague permit me to reiterate what we have said?

We call on the government of Honduras to respect human rights, and in this specific case to do the right thing. It is completely unacceptable what has happened. Canada is there to protect the victims of this unacceptable gesture.

[National Defence, March 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, this question is simply shameful.

Everybody knows that every member of this House is fighting terrorism. No Canadian who was chosen by the Canadian people is afraid to fight terrorism. We may have a democratic difference of views about how to fight it.

I would like my colleague to listen to what the Leader of the Opposition said when she asked her question. It was very dignified, but this one was not.