Parliamentary Declarations in 2022

1. Statements made on the introduction of legislation / Déclarations sur l’introduction de la législation

A. Bill S-8 / Loi S-8: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act / Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés

B. Bill C-27 / Loi C-27: Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 sur la mise en œuvre de la Charte du numérique

2. Statements in response to questions / Déclarations en réponse aux questions

A. Environment / Environnement

1. i. Biodiversity / Biodiversité

2. ii. Climate Change / Changement climatique

3. iii. Energy / Énergie

4. iv. Pollution

B. Foreign affairs / Affaires étrangères

1. i. Arctic sovereignty / Souveraineté sur l’Arctique

2. ii. Armenia / Arménie

3. iii. Belarus / Biélorussie

4. iv. China / Chine

5. v. Haiti / Haïti

6. vi. NATO / OTAN

7. vii. Russia / Russie

8. viii. Ukraine

C. Health / Santé

1. i. COVID-19

D. Human rights / Droits de la personne

1. i. China / Chine

2. ii. LGBTQ

3. iii. Palestine

4. iv. Privacy and security, telecommunications / Vie privée et sécurité, télécommunications

5. v. Qatar

6. vi. Women’s rights / Droits des femmes

E. International criminal law / Droit pénal international

1. i. Nuclear non-proliferation / Non-prolifération des armes nucléaires

2. ii. War crimes / Crimes de guerre

F. International humanitarian law / Droit international humanitaire

1. i. Food security / Sécurité alimentaire

2. ii. Humanitarian Intervention and Aid / Aide et intervention humanitaire

   1. (a) Afghanistan

   2. (b) Africa / Afrique

   3. (c) Philippines

   4. (d) Syria / Syrie

   5. (e) Ukraine

   6. (f) Yemen / Yémen

G. Trade and economy / Commerce et économie

1. i. Agriculture

2. ii. Automotive industry / Industrie automobile

3. iii. Borders / Frontières

4. iv. Foreign investment / Investissements étrangers

5. v. Pipelines / Oléoducs

6. vi. Tourism / Tourisme

7. vii. Trade / Transportation agreements / Accords commerciaux et de transport

   1. (a) India / Inde

   2. (b) Indo-Pacific / Indo-Pacifique

   3. (c) Philippines

   4. (d) United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni

8. viii. Trade in weapons / Ventes d’armes

9. ix. World Trade Organization / Organisation mondiale du commerce

H. Law of the sea / Droit de la mer

1. i. Hong Kong Convention / Convention de Hong Kong

2. ii. Ocean Protection Plan / Plan de protection des océans

1. Statements made on the introduction of legislation / Déclarations sur l’introduction de la législation

A. Bill S-8 / Loi S-8: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act / Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés ¹

L’hon. Marco Mendicino (Minister of Public Safety):

[F]or almost 10 months, Canadians have watched in shock and horror at Russia’s unjust, abhorrent and illegal invasion of Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, without provocation, Russian forces initiated this egregious step, which is a blatant violation of international law, the charter of the United Nations and the rules-based international order.

Ces étapes ont entraîné une dévastation généralisée des infrastructures et des biens ukrainiens ainsi que la mort inutile d’Ukrainiens, en particulier de civils.

These actions are a continuation and acceleration of the violent steps taken by Russia since early 2014 to undermine Ukrainian security, sovereignty and independence. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting those fleeing the destruction and devastation in Ukraine and to providing a safe haven for those fleeing their war-torn home country.

As we said since the beginning, whether it is military, political or economic support, Canada will continue to be there for Ukraine and hold Russia accountable. In the face of such brazen disregard for the international order, the Government of Canada has responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine through the use of economic measures, including sanctions, to send a clear and unequivocal message that the aggression displayed by the Russian regime will not be tolerated.

These measures apply pressure on the Russian leadership to end its senseless war, which has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and caused indescribable suffering to the people of Ukraine. These measures are the latest example of Canada’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine and its people.

Since the invasion of Ukraine commenced in February, the Government of Canada has imposed sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act on almost 1,200 individuals in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. …

More recently, the Government of Canada imposed additional sanctions under SEMA against Iranian officials in response to the Iranian regime’s ongoing grave breaches of international peace and security and gross human rights violations. These breaches and violations include its systemic persecution of women and, in particular, the egregious actions committed by Iran’s so-called morality police, which led to the death of Mahsa Amini while in their custody.

Targeted sanctions have been imposed against senior Iranian officials and prominent entities that directly implement repressive measures, violate human rights and spread the Iranian regime’s propaganda and misinformation.

The legislative amendments we are introducing to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act would provide Canada with much needed abilities to better align government-imposed sanctions with authorities related to immigration enforcement and access to Canada. The IRPA defines when a person is inadmissible to Canada and establishes the applicable criteria for all foreign nationals and permanent residents who seek to enter or remain in Canada.

However, IRPA, as it stands, is incongruous with our inadmissibility regime. Its inadmissibility provisions do not clearly align with the basis for imposing the majority of SEMA sanctions issued against Russia and Iran.

Issuing sanctions against these countries on the grounds of a grave breach of international peace and security, which has resulted in the serious situation that we see today, does not automatically trigger inadmissibility. This means that most individuals sanctioned pursuant to SEMA may nevertheless have access to travel to, enter or remain in Canada if they are not otherwise deemed inadmissible.

Cela va à l’encontre des objectifs politiques du Canada en ce qui concerne l’application mesurée de sanctions et de restrictions à l’égard des ressortissants étrangers qui font partie des régimes russe ou iranien ou qui sont des partisans clés de ces régimes.

Legislative amendments are required on an urgent basis to align the IRPA sanctions inadmissibility regime clearly with that of SEMA. …

If passed, the current inadmissibility grounds relating to sanctions would be expanded to ensure that foreign nationals subject to sanctions, for any reason under SEMA, would be inadmissible to Canada. This would include foreign nationals sanctioned not only in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Iran but also sanctioned individuals from Myanmar, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and North Korea.

In addition, these amendments would also modernize the current sanction inadmissibility framework set out in IRPA. …

Cette approche s’aligne également sur l’activité législative récente qui a été fortement soutenue, et elle s’en inspire.

For example, in the 2017 report by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, entitled “A Coherent and Effective Approach to Canada’s Sanctions Regimes: Sergei Magnitsky and Beyond”, the committee recommended that the IRPA be amended to designate all individuals sanctioned under SEMA as inadmissible to Canada.

Subsequently, also in 2017, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, also known as the Sergei Magnitsky law or Bill S-226, came into force. This act created two new inadmissibility grounds, which aligned with certain sanctions, provisions related to international human rights violations, and significant corruption. Subsequent amendments to the IRPA were also made, so that delegated CBSA officers, as opposed to the immigration division of the Immigration and Refugee Board, were empowered to issue removal orders directly at ports of entry for individuals inadmissible pursuant to the newly created sanctions inadmissibility provisions. …

Finally, budget 2018 provided the CBSA with the necessary funding to work with Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to ensure that inadmissible sanctions cases are identified as early as possible in the travel continuum to prevent them from gaining access to our country. …

Further to the work already done, there are additional complementary and coordinating amendments introduced in this bill, which are required to align inadmissibility provisions with the sanctions provisions while maintaining the integrity of both frameworks.

First, all the sanctions inadmissibility provisions will be treated in a cohesive and coherent manner. This includes, for instance, adding a temporal element to all the sanctions inadmissibility provisions, which means that a person is inadmissible only for as long as they remain on a sanctions list. In addition, as is the case today with IRPA, immediate family members of foreign nationals inadmissible for sanctions are also inadmissible. Similarly, existing provisions of IRPA with respect to immigration, detention and sanctioned individuals would apply to the new sanctioned grounds.

Second, further legislative amendments in this bill would ensure that the inadmissibility framework related to multilateral sanctions, such as sanctions issued in concert with the United Nations, would be expanded to include groups or non-state entities, as opposed to only when states are sanctioned, as is the case today. Currently, sanctions issued against groups and non-state entities, such as al Qaeda or ISIL, do not automatically trigger sanctions-related inadmissibility ground. The proposed amendments would further facilitate interdiction and enforcement for sanctions issued multilaterally.

Make no mistake, the proposed amendments would improve Canada’s ability to identify and stop sanctioned foreign nationals before they can get to Canada. In the event that some do nevertheless arrive at our borders, delegated CBSA officers would have the authority to issue removal orders immediately at ports of entry for all those inadmissible for sanctions.

While other inadmissibility provisions may be applicable to some sanctioned individuals, it should not be assumed that all sanctioned individuals are also inadmissible for other grounds. Moreover, other potentially relevant inadmissibility grounds, such as those relating to engaging in war crimes, require extensive investigation, case-by-case analysis, and hearings before the Immigration and Refugee Board before they can be applied and yield consequences. It is not expected to be the case that all individuals who are sanctioned can in fact also be found inadmissible for some other ground under IRPA.

Unless there is a clear and specific ground for inadmissibility in IRPA against given individuals, immigration and border officers do not have the discretion to deny access to Canada. These amendments are therefore vital to ensuring consistent alignment between inadmissibility and sanctions.

Bill S-8 will also support other inadmissibility and immigration enforcement measures being pursued with respect to Iran. Additional measures against the Iranian regime were announced on October 7. The Prime Minister announced that the Government of Canada would be seeking to designate the Iranian regime under IRPA. This means that in addition to the individual sanctions, the top 50% of the most senior echelons and the members of the Iranian regime most responsible for egregious serial human rights violations will be considered inadmissible to Canada once the regime has been designated, and indeed that has been done.

Other refinements are included in the proposed amendments in Bill S-8. For instance, we will correct an inconsistency with respect to refugee policy that was created through Bill S-226. The Sergei Magnitsky law rendered inadmissible foreign nationals ineligible to make a refugee claim. However, multilateral sanctions such as those issued under the United Nations Act do not have the same consequence in IRPA.

La Convention sur les réfugiés elle-même ne détermine pas non plus les sanctions en tant que telles comme suffisantes pour justifier l’exclusion de la protection des réfugiés.

In recognition of sanctions being a deliberate statement of government policy, further amendments are proposed to narrow the available pathways to overcome inadmissibility for sanctions within IRPA. …

[L]ifting of the sanction in and of itself is the mechanism by which the consequences of a sanction should be avoided. As such, the bill proposes to remove access to ministerial relief for individuals who are inadmissible for sanctions. Furthermore, individuals inadmissible for sanctions would not have access to an appeal of the inadmissibility decision before the immigration appeal division, nor may they make an application for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, under our proposed amendments. Any request for recourse related to sanctions ought to be made to the sanctions-issuing body. …

In addition, as with all decisions under IRPA, the federal court will continue to have jurisdiction to conduct judicial review of inadmissibility determinations on the basis of sanctions.

The bill also includes coordinating amendments to the Emergencies Act and the Citizenship Act to maintain and clarify existing authorities related to sanctions inadmissibility in those pieces of legislation. …

The senators have agreed to adopt the motion and, to quote Senator Omidvar, have marked this bill as “super urgent”. I urge members to review Bill S-8 with the same sense of urgency. The bill will provide Canada with much-needed authorities to better link government sanctions, as well as the authorities necessary for our immigration officials to deny access to Canada. It will also better enable us to contribute to concerted action with our international partners. …

This legislation and these amendments would provide a clear and strong message that the Government of Canada’s comprehensive sanctions framework has meaningful and direct consequences, not only from an economic perspective, but from an immigration and access to Canada perspective as well. Doing so would allow us to stand up for human rights both here and abroad.

(House of Commons Debates, 12 December 2022, pp 10759–63)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 12 décembre 2022, pp 10759–63)

B. Bill C-27 / Loi C-27: Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022 / Loi de 2022 sur la mise en œuvre de la Charte du numérique ²

L’hon. François-Philippe Champagne (ministre de l’Innovation, des Sciences et de l’Industrie):

C’est un projet de loi qui va nous aider à mieux protéger nos enfants à l’ère du numérique. […] [N]otre gouvernement continue de faire preuve de leadership dans un monde en constante évolution. En 2019, nous avons lancé la Charte canadienne du numérique, un ensemble de 10 principes de base visant à instaurer la confiance dans l’espace numérique.

Aujourd’hui, nous concrétisons ces principes en proposant une réforme ambitieuse et exhaustive du cadre canadien de protection de la vie privée, y compris des mesures de protection plus rigoureuses pour les enfants.

Plus important encore, le projet de loi C-27 reconnaît que la protection des renseignements personnels ne suffit pas. Les Canadiens méritent aussi de savoir qu’ils peuvent faire confiance aux technologies novatrices qui façonnent notre économie et notre société. Avec ce projet de loi, nous serons l’un des premiers pays au monde à créer un cadre pour l’utilisation responsable des systèmes d’intelligence artificielle.

For Canadians to further prosper from the digital economy, we need to ensure they have confidence and trust in the digital platforms, confidence that our advantage in cutting-edge technology does not come at the price of privacy and safety, confidence that their personal information is protected and confidence that we are taking the extra steps to protect our children. …

[L]e Canada est une nation qui dépend du commerce extérieur. Nous vivons dans un monde où les données traversent constamment les frontières géographiques. L’activité économique repose de plus en plus sur l’analyse et l’échange de renseignements personnels et de données. Elle repose aussi sur le développement de technologies, comme l’intelligence artificielle, pouvant être déployées n’importe où dans le monde.

Bien que ces technologies puissent améliorer notre qualité de vie et rendre nos sociétés et nos économies plus intelligentes et plus vertes, nous reconnaissons que les Canadiens et les Canadiennes méritent que leurs renseignements personnels soient bien protégés. Nous reconnaissons qu’une approche responsable de l’intelligence artificielle est nécessaire pour bâtir un Canada plus prospère. […]

The bill introduces three new key pieces of legislation. The first is the consumer privacy protection act. It would replace part 1 of the existing Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or what we otherwise know in Canada as PIPEDA. The second is the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act, which would establish the personal information and data protection tribunal as a key part of Canada’s privacy enforcement regime. Third, this bill would introduce the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act, a new law that would set a foundation for regulating the design, development, deployment and operations of AI systems. It would also criminalize intentional acts that cause serious harm to individuals.

Our previous privacy legislation, PIPEDA, has served us well. For more than 20 years, businesses have relied on its principles to guide their use of personal information, even as technologies have changed dramatically. Canadians have been secure in the knowledge that their information has been protected. However, we know there is significant room for improvement. The world now is a very different place than it was 20 years ago. …

La loi renforcerait ainsi la protection de la vie privée des Canadiens en donnant beaucoup plus de pouvoirs au commissaire à la protection de la vie privée; en protégeant les données des Canadiens, en particulier celles des mineurs; en fournissant un ensemble de règles claires pour encourager les organisations canadiennes à innover en utilisant les données de façon responsable. De concert avec la loi sur le Tribunal de la protection des renseignements personnels et des données, elle instaurerait un nouveau régime d’application de la loi pour tenir les organisations responsables de la façon dont elles traitent les renseignements personnels.

Specifically, it would increase control and transparency when Canadians’ personal information is handled by companies. It would give Canadians the freedom to delete their data, as well as move their information from one organization to another in a secure manner. It would provide the Privacy Commissioner with broad powers, including the ability to order a company to stop collecting data or using personal information. It would also establish significant financial consequences for non-compliant organizations, among some of the toughest penalties in the G7. …

Let me be clear. This would be a strongly enforced mechanism to allow for innovation within particular parameters. It is an approach similar to what is found in privacy laws in both the EU and Singapore, which are considered best in class.

(House of Commons Debates, 4 November 2022, pp 9332–34)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 4 novembre 2022, pp 9332–34)

2. Statements in response to questions / Déclarations en réponse aux questions

A. Environment / Environnement

i. Biodiversity / Biodiversité

Mme Monique Pauzé (Repentigny):

[À] cinq jours de la COP15, nous aimerions entendre de bonnes nouvelles pour la biodiversité, mais les bonnes nouvelles viennent du côté des énergies fossiles. Mardi, l’industrie albertaine du gaz s’est vantée d’avoir atteint un record de production en novembre, avec 509 millions de mètres cubes par jour, et elle célèbre bien sûr une hausse des profits de 300 %. Au même moment, mardi, du côté de la biodiversité, le fédéral rapportait que 20 % des espèces sauvages au Canada présentent un risque d’extinction. Est-ce que l’industrie gazière devrait faire 300 % de profits pendant que 20 % des espèces sont menacées?

Mr. Terry Duguid (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change):

[W]e are working very hard with industry to get those emissions down. … [W]e are capping emissions from the oil and gas sector, we are eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and we are inviting the world to COP15 in Montréal next week. We also have very aggressive targets for biodiversity preservation because we know species are becoming extinct at a rapid rate globally and here in Canada. That is why we committed to 25% of our land and waters being preserved by 2025 and 30% of our wildlife by 2030.

Mme Monique Pauzé (Repentigny):

[L]e rapport sur les espèces sauvages considère que 2 253 espèces sont en péril. Parmi celles-ci se trouve la baleine noire. […] Qu’est-ce que le fédéral fait pour la baleine noire à cinq jours de la COP15 sur la biodiversité? Il autorise, dans son habitat au large de Terre Neuve, des forages pétroliers exploratoires sans évaluation environnementale, au même moment où il invite le monde entier à la COP15 sur la biodiversité, au même moment où son rapport démontre la chute libre de la biodiversité. Pourquoi le fédéral menace-t-il activement la biodiversité pour trouver plus de pétrole et de gaz?

Hon. Joyce Murray (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard):

I share the member’s concern about the North Atlantic right whale, which is an endangered species. Our government is taking decisive and necessary steps to protect them. We have implemented Canada’s dynamic closure system to protect whales when they are sighted. We remove ghost gear to reduce entanglements. We are innovating on whale-safe gear to further protect these whales. We are aware of their situation, and I am working hard to make sure we are protecting them.

(House of Commons Debates, 2 December 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 2 décembre 2022)

ii. Climate change / Changement climatique

M. Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis):

Les représentants du Canada à la 27^e Conférence des Nations unies sur les changements climatiques ont travaillé d’arrache-pied pour trouver, de concert avec les pays développés et les pays en voie de développement, un accord qui rallierait tous les États. Hier, nous avons entendu les conservateurs induire la Chambre en erreur sur la tarification du carbone à l’échelle internationale. Est-ce que le ministre de l’Environnement et du Changement climatique peut corriger les faits à ce sujet?

L’hon. Steven Guilbeault (ministre de l’Environnement et du Changement climatique):

Nous n’en sommes pas à une déclaration fausse de la part des conservateurs à la Chambre sur la question des changements climatiques. Nous avons entendu hier qu’aucun pays ne s’est joint au défi global sur la tarification du carbone. Je me permets de rétablir les faits. Le Chili, la Commission européenne, l’Indonésie, la Colombie, le Mexique, la Nouvelle Zélande, l’Afrique du Sud et la Corée du Sud — j’allais oublier la quatrième et la cinquième économie du monde, l’Allemagne et le Royaume Uni — se sont tous joints à notre défi sur la tarification de la pollution dans le monde.

(House of Commons Debates, 22 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 22 novembre 2022)

iii. Energy / Energie

Mr. Dan Albas (Central Okanagan — Similkameen — Nicola):

[T]he President of the Unites States has ordered the release of their strategic reserve to help struggling families with record high gas prices at the pumps. … [Will the prime minster be] taking action on high gas prices?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Natural Resources):

We certainly recognize the current impact that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia is having on global energy prices around the world. That is something that is of concern to all countries, all democratic countries. It is something that we are working actively on with our partners in the United States and in Europe to address. We have announced that we will be increasing oil and gas production by 300,000 barrels a day by the end of the year, alongside our American friends who are doing likewise. We are working to stabilize energy prices. Here at home, we are working to ensure affordability for Canadians on an ongoing basis.

(House of Commons Debates, 8 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 8 juin 2022)

iv. Pollution

Mme Monique Pauzé (Repentigny):

[O]n parle d’une affaire: les bombes climatiques. Si tous les projets d’exploitation de bombe climatique devaient se réaliser, la planète serait dans de beaux draps. On apprend que le réchauffement pourrait atteindre 3 degrés Celsius, soit le double de l’objectif de l’Accord de Paris de 1,5. C’est dangereux. Le Canada a 12 bombes climatiques. Désamorcer ces bombes devrait être une priorité dans une politique d’atténuation des changements climatiques, disent les chercheurs. Parmi ces 12 bombes, plusieurs n’ont pas encore vu le jour. Le ministre de l’Environnement va-t-il s’engager clairement à refuser l’exploitation de toute nouvelle bombe climatique au Canada?

L’hon. Steven Guilbeault (ministre de l’Environnement et du Changement climatique):

Lorsque j’étais à Greenpeace, dans les années 1990, nous avons d’ailleurs publié un rapport là-dessus. Alors, cela ne date pas d’aujourd’hui, d’une part. D’autre part, nous avons pris l’engagement de mettre en place un plafond sur les émissions des gaz à effet de serre du secteur du pétrole et du gaz, et nous y travaillons. C’est l’un des éléments qui permettront au Canada d’atteindre ses objectifs d’émission des gaz à effet de serre d’ici 2030, soit de réduire de 40 à 45% ses émissions, alors que le GIEC demande aux pays de réduire d’au moins 43%. Nous suivons donc exactement ce que la science nous demande de faire.

(House of Commons Debates, 19 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 19 mai 2022)

Ms. Laurel Collins (Victoria):

Will the minister start showing some environmental leadership and expand the ban on single-use plastics?

Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change):

We promised Canadians we would deliver a ban on single-use plastics, and today that is exactly what we have done. By the end of the year, we will not be able to manufacture or import these harmful plastics. After that, businesses will begin offering the sustainable solutions Canadians want. We are taking a historic step forward, and with these new regulations we are reducing plastic pollution and keeping our communities, and the places we love, clean for now and for future generations.

(House of Commons Debates, 20 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 20 juin 2022)

B. Foreign affairs / affaires étrangères

i. Arctic Sovereignty / Souveraineté sur l’Arctique

M. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg — Haute-Saint-Charles):

Vladimir Poutine vient de mettre les forces nucléaires russes en alerte. […] [L]e premier ministre […] refuse toujours d’acheter les F-35. La souveraineté du Canada dans le Nord est en danger. Est-ce que la ministre de la Défense en est consciente? Que fait-elle?

L’hon. Anita Anand (ministre de la Défense nationale):

Le Canada continuera de travailler avec ses partenaires américains pour s’assurer que le NORAD est modernisé afin de relever les défis actuels et futurs pour la protection et la souveraineté de l’Arctique. C’est pourquoi nous avons engagé 252,2 millions de dollars jusqu’à la fin du budget de 2021 comme investissement initial. Nous allons continuer de travailler avec nos partenaires américains pour veiller sur notre souveraineté dans l’Arctique.

(House of Commons Debates, 28 February 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 28 février 2022)

M. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg — Haute-Saint-Charles):

Le premier ministre a promis au président américain en 2017 de moderniser le NORAD et, en 2019, le Comité lui avait fait la recommandation d’allouer le financement. Nous sommes en 2022. Quand le premier ministre va t il agir?

L’hon. Anita Anand (ministre de la Défense nationale):

Tout récemment, nous avons attribué un contrat de 592 millions de dollars à la Nasittuq Corporation, une entreprise inuite, pour l’exploitation et l’entretien du Système d’alerte du Nord. Nous resterons fermes et inébranlables sur la défense de nos intérêts nationaux.

(House of Commons Debates, 3 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 3 mars 2022)

Ms. Joanne Thompson (St. John’s East):

Hans Island has been subject to a 50-year-long territorial dispute between Canada and Denmark. While the Whisky War raged on, it was high time that we found a permanent solution that affirmed Canada’s sovereignty and respected the rights of the Inuit. Can the Prime Minister share with this House the significance of the announcement of the historic agreement between Denmark and Canada that resolved this dispute?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):

As global security is threatened, it is more important than ever for democracies like Canada and Denmark to work together to resolve our differences in accordance with international law. That is why we jointly announced a historic agreement to settle the Whisky War and the dispute over Hans Island once and for all. We will continue working with our partners, like Denmark, to protect the security and stability in the Arctic while doing so hand in hand with Indigenous peoples.

(House of Commons Debates, 15 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 15 juin 2022)

ii. Armenia / Arménie

Ms. Jean Yip (Scarborough — Agincourt):

As a result of the ongoing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, my Scarborough — Agincourt constituents and beyond are concerned about the 240 deaths and the many destroyed civilian settlements in Armenia. A ceasefire was agreed upon on September 14. However, recent reports suggest further escalation. Our government announced it will open a full embassy in Armenia, and we are actively engaging with our Armenian partners to strengthen their democracy. Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs update us on the steps we have taken to secure peace in this area and how we are supporting the strengthening of democracy in Armenia?

Hon. Mélanie Joly (Minister of Foreign Affairs):

I announced back in June that Canada would be opening a new embassy in Yerevan, and that has been long awaited by many. This will also allow our countries to have stronger ties. We know there is a lot of instability and security challenges in the region. Canada will step up and be involved in making sure that we have stronger ties, and protect peace and democracy in the region and globally.

(House of Commons Debates, 31 October 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 31 octobre 2022)

iii. Belarus / Biélorussie

M. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby-Sud):

Les Ukrainiens font face à une crise désastreuse. Le Canada doit se tenir debout contre le président Poutine et sa guerre injuste et non provoquée. Le Royaume-Uni a pris des sanctions contre le Bélarus pour son rôle dans cette guerre. Le premier ministre est-il prêt à mettre en place des sanctions contre le Bélarus?

Le très hon. Justin Trudeau (premier ministre):

Nous avons annoncé des sanctions contre la Russie depuis plusieurs jours, mais nous avons aussi ajouté des sanctions contre la Biélorussie, parce qu’on sait qu’elle a été complice et même un partenaire de cette invasion de l’Ukraine. Nos sanctions contre le gouvernement biélorusse et les oligarques qui en profitent sont présentes et sévères. Nous allons toujours continuer à vouloir en faire plus contre la Biélorussie pour sa complicité.

(House of Commons Debates, 1 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 1er mars 2022)

iv. China / Chine

M. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean):

C’est curieux que le Canada participe à un boycottage diplomatique des Jeux olympiques, mais que ce gouvernement soit incapable de nous dire pourquoi. Il n’a pas le courage de nous dire que c’est parce que la Chine commet un génocide contre le peuple ouïghour. […] Est-ce cela, le rôle diplomatique du Canada? Est-ce cela que le premier ministre avait en tête quand il disait au monde entier: “Canada is back”?

L’hon. Mélanie Joly (ministre des Affaires étrangères):

Nous prenons très au sérieux les allégations de génocide contre le peuple ouïghour en Chine. C’est pourquoi nous avons toujours exprimé ces préoccupations, c’est pourquoi nous n’envoyons pas de représentants politiques aux Jeux olympiques de Pékin, qui commencent vendredi, et c’est aussi pourquoi nous avons demandé au Comité des droits de l’homme de l’ONU d’enquêter sur le sujet. Alors, j’aimerais corriger mon collègue qui dit que nous ne faisons pas preuve de leadership et que nous n’enquêtons pas sur la question. Au contraire, nous voulons faire toute la lumière sur cette question extrêmement préoccupante.

(House of Commons Debates, 31 January 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 31 janvier 2022)

Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition):

[T]here are now reports of Beijing-controlled police stations on Canadian soil. This, of course, would be a violation of international law. It is illegal for a foreign government to open a law enforcement office in another country without permission. The last we checked, there is no permission for that to happen. My question to the Prime Minister is very simple: How many diplomats from Beijing involved in these police stations has he ordered expelled from Canada?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):

[F]oreign actors attempting to monitor, intimidate or threaten Canadians is completely unacceptable. The allegations detailed are concerning, which is why we will never tolerate threats to Canada’s national security or to the safety of our citizens and residents. The RCMP has announced that it is investigating these allegations, and I have asked officials to examine them very carefully. We will continue to work closely with our allies around the world to respond to illegal and unacceptable behaviour by authoritarian states like China.

(House of Commons Debates, 14 December 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 14 décembre 2022)

v. Haiti / Haïti

M. Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa):

[Q]uelles mesures a-t-on prises pour s’assurer que d’autres pays suivent l’exemple du Canada et pour que nos partenaires s’engagent à soutenir la solution haïtienne?

L’hon. Mélanie Joly (ministre des Affaires étrangères):

En effet, nous avons imposé des sanctions sévères aux membres de l’élite économique et politique en Haïti qui profite de la violence des gangs. Présentement, notre objectif est de faire progresser le dialogue politique. C’est pourquoi notre ambassadeur aux Nations unies, Bob Rae, est présentement en Haïti. Notre objectif est encore et toujours de soutenir des solutions par et pour les Haïtiens.

(House of Commons Debates, 8 December 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 8 décembre 2022)

vi. NATO / OTAN

Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew — Nipissing — Pembroke):

The government has committed 3,400 troops to augment NATO’s eastern flank should Putin’s war spread to an alliance member. … New recruits were put into solitary confinement, missing the rare chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training course. … Why is the … government putting our troops in harm’s way without the proper protection?

Hon. Anita Anand (Minister of National Defence):

In fact, our commitment to NATO operations, including Operation Reassurance, is unwavering. To reinforce our deterrent measures in Europe in the face of rising tensions, we announced that we are increasing military contributions in support of NATO and in support of Operation Reassurance with up to 460 additional CAF [Canadian Armed Forces] personnel; an artillery battery in Latvia; a second frigate, which departed Halifax over the past couple of weeks; and a maritime patrol aircraft. We are there for NATO. We are there for Ukraine.

(House of Commons Debates, 28 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 28 mars 2022)

Mr. Kody Blois (Kings — Hants):

We know the importance of Canada’s relationship with NATO. … [Can the minister] provide an update to the House on the announcement she made in Nova Scotia?

Hon. Anita Anand (Minister of National Defence):

Canada stands firmly with our allies on the side of democracy and the rule of law. That is why we will continue offering unwavering support to Ukraine. This weekend, Canada announced that Halifax would be the location for the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, or DIANA, which will bring together innovators, tech companies and researchers to solve critical security challenges. As we face new threats and pressures, this is exactly the type of leadership that Canada will continue.

(House of Commons Debates, 22 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 22 novembre 2022)

vii. Russia / Russie

Hon. Michael Chong (Wellington — Halton Hills):

[A]uthoritarian states such as Russia and China are spreading disinformation. In the last election, China spread disinformation leading to the defeat of MPs in this very House. Right now, Russia is spreading disinformation through proxies such as Russia Today, RT. Will the government take seriously this threat, take immediate action under section 7 of the Broadcasting Act and order the CRTC to adopt a new policy of general application so that we can get these propaganda tools of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China off of Canadian airwaves?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):

[W]e must defend Canadians from disinformation and propaganda. Just as he has been conducting warfare in Ukraine since 2014, Vladimir Putin has been conducting information warfare there and throughout the world. … [W]e will be asking the CRTC to review Russia Today’s presence on Canadian airwaves, but it is important that what separates us from countries like Russia is that this decision is in the hands of independent regulators, not in the hands of politicians.

(House of Commons Debates, 2 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 2 mars 2022)

Mr. Taylor Bachrach (Skeena — Bulkley Valley):

Will the government take decisive action to implement the ban now before dock workers are forced to do it themselves?

Hon. Omar Alghabra (Minister of Transport):

[O]ur government stands with Ukraine and Ukrainian people. We will not let the Russian aggression go unpunished. That is why our government took swift and decisive action to ban Russian flights from entering Canadian airspace. That is why our government took decisive and swift action to ban Russian ships from entering Canadian waters. Our government will do whatever it takes to stop the unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine.

(House of Commons Debates, 3 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 3 mars 2022)

Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona):

[O]n March 28, Russian oligarch Igor Makarov, who has been sanctioned in the United States since 2018, was able to get $121 million out of Canada. … When [is the government] going to get their act together?

Hon. Mélanie Joly (Minister of Foreign Affairs):

We have done a lot as a government, and of course we have to do more. We are using sanctions to put pressure on the Russian regime and hold it accountable, and 1,400 entities and individuals have been sanctioned up to now. We are now proposing new measures to go even further, not only to seize but to allow for the forfeiture of the assets of sanctioned individuals and entities. These measures will allow us to compensate victims and support the reconstruction of Ukraine. These changes make Canada a leader in the G7.

(House of Commons Debates, 28 April 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 28 avril 2022)

viii. Ukraine

Mr. Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Centre):

Russia has amassed over 130,000 soldiers on Ukraine’s border and is threatening a further invasion of Ukraine. This further Russian aggression is a threat to not only Ukraine’s security, but Europe’s security, that of our allies and Canada’s security. … [W]hat steps [has] Canada taken and will take to deter a Russian invasion of Ukraine and to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):

We are working with our NATO allies, and we have extended Operation Unifier. We continue to work with them to coordinate our responses to deter further Russian aggression. When Ukraine needed support financially, we were there with a loan of $120 million. When Ukraine needed more support for military training, we stepped up. When Ukraine needed more cyber-support, we were there. Rest assured that we will continue with our support for Ukraine.

(House of Commons Debates, 2 February 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 2 février 2022)

M. Yves-François Blanchet (Beloeil — Chambly):

S’entend-on pour dire que les sanctions doivent être maintenues tant que le dernier soldat russe n’aura pas quitté l’Ukraine?

Le très hon. Justin Trudeau (premier ministre):

Nous sommes entièrement d’accord. La situation n’est pas juste une question de l’intégrité territoriale de l’Ukraine; c’est une question de la règle de droit et du principe des Nations unies et de la Charte. Nous devons être là pour appuyer ces principes et nous allons garder les sanctions en place jusqu’à ce que la Russie reconnaisse avoir fait une erreur monumentale et retire ses militaires de l’entièreté du territoire ukrainien.

(House of Commons Debates, 1 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 1er mars 2022)

Ms. Julie Dzerowicz (Davenport):

Canada … [has] been providing comprehensive military support to our Ukrainian partners as they fight to defend their country. This weekend, the Prime Minister announced even more aid. … [What has been] this new military aid?

Hon. Anita Anand (Minister of National Defence):

[O]ur support for Ukraine remains unwavering. This past weekend, while the Prime Minister was in Kyiv, he announced $50 million more in military aid, in addition to the $131 million already committed since February. This includes 18 drone cameras, $15 million in high-resolution satellite imagery, $1 million in small arms and related ammunition and additional ammunition for the M777 Howitzers. As Ukrainian heroes fight back to win this war, Canada stands shoulder to shoulder with them.

(House of Commons Debates, 10 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 10 mai 2022)

Ms. Julie Dzerowicz (Davenport):

[How does] Canada … step up and support NATO, as well as the brave Ukrainian military fighting back against Putin’s brutal and reprehensible attacks?

Hon. Anita Anand (Minister of National Defence):

[L]ast week, in Poland, I signed a memorandum of understanding, strengthening the defence relationship with Poland, and committed 40 Canadian Armed Forces engineers to help train Ukrainians. Then at NATO, I announced another tranche of military aid for Ukraine, including cameras for drones, satellite services, 155 millimetre ammunition and additional aid. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in the short and long term.

(House of Commons Debates, 18 October 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 18 octobre 2022)

Mr. Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Centre):

Today, the Prime Minister of Canada made an announcement of additional military support for the people of Ukraine. Could the Minister of National Defence please share with the House and with Canadians that announcement?

Hon. Anita Anand (Minister of National Defence):

[T]his morning, the Prime Minister announced an additional $500 million of military aid for Ukraine, bringing the total committed by the Government of Canada to over $1 billion. In addition, Canada is transporting military aid on behalf of our allies and ourselves. We have transported over five million pounds of aid. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in the short and long term.

(House of Commons Debates, 14 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 14 novembre 2022)

Mr. Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Centre):

[What is] Canada … doing to train the Ukrainian armed forces?

Hon. Anita Anand (Minister of National Defence):

Since 2015, under Operation Unifier, the Canadian Armed Forces have trained more than 34,000 Ukrainian military personnel. We are training them in England. We are training Ukrainian engineers in Poland. Why? It is because their sovereignty, their stability and their security is global security as well, and we are there in the short term and the long term until Ukraine wins this war.

(House of Commons Debates, 8 December 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 8 décembre, 2022)

C. Health / Santé

i. COVID-19

M. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay (Saint-Hyacinthe — Bagot):

Qu’est-ce que le Canada fait aujourd’hui pour redresser ce navire pour qu’on sorte enfin de la pandémie pour de bon?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

Canada is stepping up to provide vaccines for the global community. That is why our government committed $2.6 billion to the COVID-19 response, which includes $1.3 billion for the ACT-Accelerator, of which $545 million is for COVAX. Over $740 million is for humanitarian and development assistance. … [A]ll of us in the world need to be vaccinated for all of us to be safe.

(House of Commons Debates, 31 January 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 31 janvier, 2022)

Mrs. Rechie Valdez (Mississauga — Streetsville):

[T]his week is International Development Week. … [W]hat [is] Canada … doing to help other countries in their vaccination campaigns?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

[O]n this International Development Week, we must recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the most vulnerable and low-income countries. This is why our government committed 200 million vaccine doses, and approximately 100 million doses have already been made available. Our contributions have supported vaccination campaigns in Rwanda, Bangladesh, Guatemala, Nigeria and many other countries. We will continue to ensure that vaccines and treatments reach the most vulnerable.

(House of Commons Debates, 10 February 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 10 février 2022)

D. Human rights / Droits de la personne

Mme Brenda Shanahan (Châteauguay — Lacolle):

[D]emain, nous soulignons la Journée des droits de la personne. Cette journée commémore l’adoption de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme. Alors que les droits de la personne se font piétiner dans des endroits comme la Russie, l’Iran et le Myanmar, le Canada doit défendre les valeurs que nous tenons à cœur. La ministre des Affaires étrangères peut-elle informer la Chambre des mesures que nous prenons pour protéger les droits de la personne et tenir responsables ceux qui les violent?

L’hon. Mélanie Joly (ministre des Affaires étrangères):

La question des droits de la personne est au cœur de notre politique étrangère. Voilà pourquoi nous avons sanctionné aujourd’hui 67 individus et 9 entités qui violent les droits de la personne en Russie, en Iran et au Myanmar. Le Canada va continuer de lutter pour la justice et tenir responsable ceux et celles qui violent les droits de la personne. Notre gouvernement défendra toujours les valeurs des Canadiens ici et partout dans le monde.

(House of Commons Debates, 9 December 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 9 décembre 2022)

i. China / Chine

M. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean):

[L]a Chambre des communes, l’Assemblée nationale française, le Parlement britannique, le secrétaire d’État des États-Unis, entre autres, ont tous qualifié le traitement des Ouïghours par la Chine de génocide. […] Le premier ministre peut-il […] enfin reconnaître que les Ouïghours subissent un génocide et que Pékin en est le maître d’œuvre?

L’hon. Robert Oliphant (secrétaire parlementaire de la ministre des Affaires étrangères):

[N]ous continuons d’exhorter la Chine à respecter ses obligations internationales en matière de droits de la personne et à répondre aux préoccupations soulevées dans le rapport Bachelet. We take that report seriously. It has raised the possibility of extreme crimes against humanity. We will continue to fight for human rights and the respect of minority rights for everybody in China and around the world.

(House of Commons Debates, 15 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 15 novembre 2022)

ii. LGBTQ

Mr. Randall Garrison (Esquimalt — Saanich — Sooke):

For nearly seven years New Democrats have been calling for the creation of a clear path to safety for LGBTQI+ refugees whose lives are at imminent risk. Currently, Rainbow Railroad has identified and fully verified 300 Afghans at high risk of immediate life-threatening violence simply for being who they are. … Will the government immediately partner with Rainbow Railroad to evacuate and resettle these 300 high-risk LGBTQI+ Afghans?

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship):

[O]ur doors are always open for people who identify as LGBTQ escaping from violence and persecution in their country. We work closely with organizations such as the Rainbow Refugee society, the UNHCR and others to help sponsor LGBTQ refugees from abroad. We are supporting at least 55 service providers to make them feel at home. We have a role to play to make sure LGBTQ people feel safe and supported, so they can participate fully in society.

(House of Commons Debates, 13 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 13 juin 2022)

iii. Palestine

Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona):

[T]he horrendous killing of beloved Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is unacceptable and blatantly violates the protection of journalists. … Will the government condemn these horrific actions and immediately join the call for a truly international independent investigation?

Hon. Robert Oliphant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs):

I would hope I speak for every member of this House in expressing the outrage we have all shared with respect to the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh. It was an outrage that affected our deepest sense of humanity, as she was simply doing her job and was killed. Our hearts are with her family, friends, colleagues and those who mourn the loss of the work she was doing. Canada has called for a thorough investigation into this killing, such that people will have confidence in its findings. We will continue to advocate for that and ensure that the rights of journalists are protected this day and every day.

(House of Commons Debates, 16 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 16 mai 2022)

Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona):

[T]he new UN report on the occupied Palestinian territory in Israel has alarming findings: increased discrimination, ongoing human rights abuses and a deepening asymmetrical conflict. Israel clearly has no intention of ending the illegal occupation. … Why will the government not even consider this United Nations report and revisit its policy towards Palestine and Israel?

Hon. Robert Oliphant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs):

[I]t is an honour to talk about the steadfast friendship that we have with Israel. We are a friend and ally of Israel and we are a friend of the Palestinian people. In that context, we are committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. We know that this is not easy. It takes time, energy and commitment, and that will always include the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel. This is consistent with Canada’s long-standing position. We will continue to work with every member of this House to make that vision a reality.

(House of Commons Debates, 14 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 14 juin 2022)

iv. Privacy and security, telecommunications / Vie privée et sécurité, télécommunications

Mr. Brian Masse (Windsor West):

[T]he delay of the Huawei decision compromised our intelligence sharing with allies and compromised the competitiveness of our domestic telecom industry. … Why is the government failing to prioritize the national security and privacy of Canadians?

Hon. François-Philippe Champagne (Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry):

[T]his gives me the opportunity to come back to the announcement we made yesterday. This has never been about a race. This is about national security. What we announced yesterday is our intention to exclude equipment and services from Huawei and ZTE from the 5G telecommunication network in Canada. This is in the best interest of Canadians. This is protecting our national security, and it will ensure the resilience of our telecom sector for generations to come.

(House of Commons Debates, 20 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 20 mai 2022)

Mr. Taleeb Noormohamed (Vancouver Granville):

Can the Prime Minister inform this House how new legislation on cybersecurity will enable Canadian organizations to protect critical cyber infrastructure and our communities?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):

Cybersecurity is national security. Bill C-26 will help both the public and private sectors better protect themselves against cyber-attacks and is one part of our robust strategy to defend Canada and the crucial infrastructure that Canadians rely on. We will always protect the safety and security of Canadians and we will take any actions necessary to safeguard our telecommunications infrastructure.

(House of Commons Debates, 15 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 15 juin 2022)

M. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg — Haute-Saint-Charles):

Aujoud’hui, pour la première fois dans l’histoire du Canada, une accusation criminelle a été portée contre un employé d’Hydro-Québec qui envoyait du renseignement industriel au régime communiste chinois. Cependant, les responsables du renseignement canadien ont aussi affirmé, et je cite: le péril auquel le Canada est confronté s’il choisit de ne pas donner suite aux allégations d’ingérence étrangère chinoise est très important. Même l’ancien ambassadeur du Canada en Chine, David Mulroney, a dit qu’il ne pensait pas que le gouvernement l’ait compris ou qu’il soit enclin à agir. Ma question est simple: pouvons-nous savoir qui sont les 11 candidats qui ont bénéficié de l’argent du régime communiste chinois?

L’hon. François-Philippe Champagne (ministre de l’Innovation, des Sciences et de l’Industrie):

[N]ous avons renforcé les règles concernant les minéraux critiques partout au pays. De plus, récemment, j’ai bloqué trois transactions justement pour protéger la sécurité nationale au pays. Je pense que tous les parlementaires peuvent s’entendre face aux Canadiens pour dire que, de ce côté-ci de la Chambre, nous prenons la sécurité nationale très au sérieux. Nous allons toujours agir dans l’intérêt des Canadiens.

(House of Commons Debates, 14 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 14 novembre 2022)

v. Qatar

M. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean):

[L]a Coupe du monde de soccer commence dimanche au Qatar, une dictature qui bafoue les droits de la personne. Les joueurs ont le doit de compétitionner, mais le Canada ne doit pas participer diplomatiquement. […] Est-ce qu[e le gouvernement] va envoyer une délégation diplomatique au Qatar, oui ou non?

Mr. Maninder Sidhu (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs):

[W]e are very proud of the Canada national soccer team qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which has many members from our community in Brampton. We are also very concerned about reports of dangerous working conditions in building the World Cup’s stadiums and infrastructure, especially those resulting in death. We join international partners in calling for transparency and robust measures to protect the health, safety, dignity and human rights of all workers to ensure the tournament is a success.

(House of Commons Debates, 18 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 18 novembre 2022)

vi. Women’s rights / Droits des femmes

Ms. Arielle Kayabaga (London West):

[H]ow [is] Canada going to ensure that all women, adolescents and children not only survive this pandemic but thrive?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

[O]ur government is committed to women’s health as a long-standing priority. That is why I recently announced $40 million in additional funding to support the Global Financing Facility’s “Reclaim the Gains” campaign, bringing Canada’s total contribution to $190 million. The funds will help lower-income countries improve the resilience of their health systems and reverse the impact of COVID-19. Canada sees the GFF as a critical part of strengthening country-led health systems and reinforcing sexual and reproductive health rights as core components of the health care system.

(House of Commons Debates, 9 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 9 mai 2022)

Mrs. Rechie Valdez (Mississauga — Streetsville):

In light of the courage and the tenacity of Iranian women, can the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth share what our government is doing to fight for women’s rights around the world?

Hon. Marci Ien (Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth):

At the G7, I called on our allies to sign a joint statement to condemn the Iranian regime. I said at that point, and I am saying now, that this is not about head scarves. This is about human rights. I stand by that. Our government stands by that. I have to say, it takes immense courage to speak one’s truth, and I was so moved last night when women did just that. They shared their stories at a vigil for Mahsa Amini. I want women here and around the world to know that we stand with them.

(House of Commons Debates, 27 October 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 27 octobre 2022)

E. International criminal law / Droit pénal international

i. Nuclear non-proliferation / Non-prolifération des armes nucléaires

Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona):

Will the minister … commit to sending an observation delegation to the disarmament meeting in Vienna this June?

Hon. Robert Oliphant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs):

Canada shares in its unwavering commitment towards a world free of nuclear weapons. We agree that we need to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all places at all times. While we acknowledge that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons reflects well-founded concerns about the unacceptably slow pace of global disarmament, our concern right now and our focus is on working with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the NPT, and on the Stockholm initiative for nuclear disarmament. We will continue to engage in all multilateral fora.

(House of Commons Debates, 19 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 19 mai 2022)

ii. War crimes / Crimes de guerre

Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona):

There is evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity everywhere [in Ukraine.] … Will the government call for Russia to be removed from the United Nations Human Rights Council?

Hon. Robert Oliphant (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs):

I think I speak with all members of the House to express the outrage, sadness and horror we feel as we watch scenes of civilians who have been killed in Ukraine. Let me be very clear. We believe these amount to war crimes. We believe these amount to crimes against humanity, and we will continue to take every step possible to hold Russia accountable for these crimes. We will go to the International Criminal Court. We will go with Ukraine to the International Court of Justice. We will stand with the people of Ukraine.

(House of Commons Debates, 4 April 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 4 avril 2022)

F. International humanitarian law / Droit international humanitaire

i. Food security / Sécurité alimentaire

Mr. Sameer Zuberi (Pierrefonds — Dollard):

Le ministre du Développement international peut-il nous dire comment le Canada travaille avec ses partenaires du Programme alimentaire mondial pour lutter contre l’insécurité alimentaire dans le monde?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

[T]he climate crisis is causing a food security crisis for the most vulnerable around the world. Hunger leads to conflict. This is why Canada was the fourth-largest single country donor to the World Food Programme in 2021, providing over $306 million in humanitarian funding for emergency food and nutritional assistance to people in need. I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the World Food Programme and the many other organizations for feeding the most vulnerable on our planet.

(House of Commons Debates, 27 September 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 27 septembre 2022)

Mr. Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Centre):

[W]hat [is] Canada doing to fight food shortages and to fight starvation around the world?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

Despite the challenges Ukrainians face, they continue to look beyond their borders in supporting the fight against hunger in the global south. Our government commends Ukraine on its commitment to donating grain to help address the global food crisis as part of its grain from Ukraine humanitarian initiative. This is why Canada is providing $30 million to the World Food Programme to facilitate additional shipments of Ukrainian grain moving through the Black Sea grain initiative. With our partners, will continue to look at ways on how we can make sure that food is available for the most vulnerable.

(House of Commons Debates, 28 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 28 novembre 2022)

ii. Humanitarian intervention and aid / Aide et intervention humanitaire

(a) Afghanistan

Ms. Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East):

[T]oday the media reported that Afghan interpreters who helped the Canadian military are being tortured and beaten by the Taliban while they wait for the government to get them to safety. Yesterday, our committee was told that 3,800 Afghans had their identities verified by National Defence, but only 900 of those have had their applications processed. No one knew or could advise what happened to the other 2,900 applications. … Can the minister confirm if IRCC has lost those urgent applications?

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship):

[S]o far, more than 12,600 Afghan refugees have arrived in Canada, and more than half of those arrived through our special immigration measures for Afghans who assisted in Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. Another two flights are arriving later this week. We will not stop until we reach our goal to welcome at least 40,000 Afghan refugees to Canada.

(House of Commons Debates, 10 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 10 mai 2022)

Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona):

Twenty-three million Afghans are dealing with drought, food shortages and the breakdown of health services. … Will the government promise to offer a workable solution for Canadian organizations before winter sets in and Afghans begin to starve?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

Canada remains deeply concerned about the critical and worsening humanitarian situation that is unfolding in Afghanistan. This is why I announced that Canada is providing an additional $50 million for a total of $156 million in 2022 to help support the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls. The funding will allow Canada’s humanitarian partners to provide life-saving assistance to ensure that humanitarian goods are dispatched and that workers continue to be able to support the Afghan people.

(House of Commons Debates, 26 September 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 26 septembre 2022)

(b) Africa / Afrique

Mme Anju Dhillon (Dorval — Lachine — LaSalle):

L’honorable premier ministre peut-il informer la Chambre de ce que fait le Canada pour aider les personnes qui sont confrontées à une telle crise?

Le très hon. Justin Trudeau (premier ministre):

L’agression de la Russie a des conséquences importantes et immédiates sur la sécurité alimentaire mondiale et la nutrition des personnes les plus vulnérables du monde. C’est pourquoi nous avons annoncé que le Canada verserait 100 millions de dollars à la Banque africaine de développement pour soutenir la croissance des petites et moyennes entreprises agroalimentaires. Ce financement va aider à accroître la sécurité alimentaire sur le continent, tout en favorisant une croissance économique inclusive et durable.

(House of Commons Debates, 15 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 15 juin 2022)

(c) Philippines

Mrs. Rechie Valdez (Mississauga — Streetsville):

[O]n December 16 and 17, super typhoon Rai, or typhoon Odette, hit the Philippines. … [W]hat [is] Canada doing to support the people of the Philippines?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

Today, I am announcing that Canada will provide an additional $2 million in funding for life-saving humanitarian assistance to the Philippines to help the most vulnerable people affected by typhoon Rai. This funding builds on the $3 million of humanitarian assistance announced last year that Canada provided to the Philippines. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this typhoon.

(House of Commons Debates, 3 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 3 mars 2022)

(d) Syria / Syrie

Mr. Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale):

Millions of Syrians have been displaced, seeking refuge in Canada and in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. … [W]hat [is] the government doing to help Syrians in neighbouring countries?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

Since 2015, our government has been present for the Syrian people, with over $4 billion in funding, which includes significant humanitarian development and stabilization assistance. Today, I announced that we will continue to be there for them, with additional funding of over $229 million to Syria and the surrounding region. This funding will help the crisis-affected people to meet their basic needs, such as food, sanitation and health services, and empower women and girls in advancing gender rights.

(House of Commons Debates, 10 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 10 mai 2022)

(e) Ukraine

Mr. Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Centre):

[W]hat [is] Canada doing to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

Canada is deeply concerned by the deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine that has been caused by President Putin, and we are monitoring the situation very closely on the ground. This is why our government has provided $50 million to support developing humanitarian aid and over $620 million in loan offers. Just on Friday, we announced that we would match, up to $10 million, the generous donations of Canadians to support Ukrainians through the Ukrainian Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and we will do more.

(House of Commons Debates, 28 February 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 28 février 2022)

Mr. Sven Spengemann (Mississauga — Lakeshore):

[What are] Canada’s efforts to support innocent bystanders and victims of this unprovoked invasion?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):

Yesterday, our government announced an additional $100 million in funding for humanitarian assistance for the people of Ukraine and for those who have been forced to flee the country. This funding will help provide emergency health services, including trauma care, support to displaced populations and essential, life-saving services such as shelter, water, sanitation and food. We will always be there for our Ukrainian friends and continue to work with partners to see what more we can do to help those impacted by this conflict.

(House of Commons Debates, 2 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 2 mars 2022)

Mr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Calgary Forest Lawn):

Tetiana is a Ukrainian who worked with the Canadian Forces as an interpreter before the Russian invasion. After she left Ukraine for Poland, she applied for the emergency travel. She tried to get an appointment for biometrics on March 21, but all the spots were full in many neighbouring countries until July 2022. That would be over four months since she applied, and Tetiana is not alone. When will the government finally … implement visa-free travel [for Ukraininans]?

Hon. Sean Fraser (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship):

[A]s of yesterday, certain individuals in low-risk cohorts will no longer be required to have biometrics before they are permitted to enter into Canada. In addition, we are putting more resources on the ground, including opening a second visa application office in Warsaw. Another team of people arrived yesterday in Warsaw. We are moving the resources, as we have since the beginning of this effort, to where people are moving to so that we are in a position to respond as quickly and as nimbly as possible. We will continue to do that until we get as many people here as we possibly can.

(House of Commons Debates, 29 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 29 mars 2022)

Mr. Marc Dalton (Pitt Meadows — Maple Ridge):

Comlux Aviation has offered a commercial airline to provide humanitarian flights to Ukraine for free. … Will the minister commit right now to provide intervention to allow this airline to provide aid for Ukrainians in their hour of need?

Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship):

[S]ince January Canada has welcomed over 43,500 Ukrainians. We have launched the Ukrainian authorization for emergency travel, which made it easier, faster and safer for Ukrainians to come. We secured three targeted flights to get Ukrainians to safety and we are also providing a one-time direct payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child to them. We stand with Ukraine and we are going to continue to help our Ukrainian community.

(House of Commons Debates, 13 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 13 juin 2022)

(f) Yemen / Yémen

Ms. Anju Dhillon (Dorval — Lachine — LaSalle):

Yemen is undergoing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and its people deserve decisive action, especially women and girls who are disproportionately affected. Canadians are deeply concerned by the raging conflict and the deteriorating food security situation. What is the Minister of International Development doing to help the people of Yemen?

Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan (Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada):

The conflict in Yemen continues to impact almost 20 million people who need help, especially women and children. This is why last week I announced an additional $62.5 million in funding to help with urgent humanitarian needs. By providing food assistance, clean water, sanitation, protection and health care, this aid will help the Yemeni people whose lives have been impacted by this.

(House of Commons Debates, 24 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 24 mars 2022)

G. Trade and economy / Commerce et économie

i. Agriculture

Mr. Heath MacDonald (Malpeque):

[H]ow [is] the government progressing toward the resumption of exports of [Canadian] potatoes in the world?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):

Restoring market access for P.E.I. fresh potatoes to the U.S. and supporting P.E.I. farmers continues to be a top priority for our government. Thanks to the work of two of our colleagues who went to Washington, and their science-based approach, the export of table stock potatoes to Puerto Rico can now resume. We will continue to defend our farmers and to push for a science-based approach until potato exports are completely restored.

(House of Commons Debates, 9 February 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 9 février 2022)

Mme Viviane Lapointe (Sudbury):

[E]n mars 2019, deux compagnies canadiennes ayant des activités dans plusieurs provinces canadiennes ont vu leurs exportations de graines de canola vers la Chine suspendues par les autorités douanières chinoises. La ministre de l’Agriculture et de l’Agroalimentaire peut-elle dire à la Chambre s’il y a eu des développements dans ce dossier récemment?

L’hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau (ministre de l’Agriculture et de l’Agroalimentaire):

[N]ous savons à quel point les grains canadiens sont importants. Les céréales canadiennes sont d’excellente qualité et elles sont aussi importantes pour la sécurité alimentaire dans le monde. Quand deux entreprises canadiennes ont vu leurs exportations suspendues en Chine, on a pris toutes les mesures qu’il fallait et on a travaillé de près avec l’industrie. Je suis contente de dire à la Chambre que, maintenant, ces entreprises peuvent recommencer leurs exportations de canola vers la Chine.

(House of Commons Debates, 19 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 19 mai 2022)

ii. Automotive industry / Industrie automobile

Mr. Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre):

[What is] the government doing to secure Canadian jobs and attract important investments in [the electric vehicle manufacturing] sector?

Hon. François-Philippe Champagne (Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry):

[W]e have attracted a record number of investments. In fact, Bloomberg ranked Canada second in the world for its battery ecosystem. More recently, while I was in Germany, we signed a renewed MOU [memorandum of understanding] with Volkswagen at a time when it said it was considering Canada for its first battery cell manufacturing plant in North America. This is good news for workers, … the economy, … [and] for Canada.

(House of Commons Debates, 7 December 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 7 décembre 2022)

iii. Borders / Frontières

Mr. Dane Lloyd (Sturgeon River — Parkland):

[T]he invocation of the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history is a damning indictment on the failure of the Prime Minister to address the situation. … When will he stop undermining Canadians’ rights and start renewing Canadians’ trust?

Hon. Marco Mendicino (Minister of Public Safety):

Canadians can trust that this government will always follow the science and the best evidence to get us out of this pandemic. That includes getting vaccinated. Contrary to what my colleague says, this is an illegal blockade. This illegal blockade is not about the vaccines or the mandates. It is about a very small, organized group that is trying to upend our way of life. Now, we have made progress. We have seen the Ambassador Bridge reopen, we have seen Coutts reopen and we have seen Surrey reopen. Yes, yesterday, we invoked the Emergencies Act so we can secure that progress and give law enforcement all the tools they need.

(House of Commons Debates, 15 February 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 15 février 2022)

iv. Foreign investment / Investissements étrangers

Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre):

The federal government could remove tax exemptions for corporate investors tomorrow instead of bragging about studying the issue. When will the Minister of Housing ensure homes are for people, not commodities for investors to trade?

Hon. Ahmed Hussen (Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion):

Mr. Speaker, we understand the issue. That is why we have already implemented a 1% annual tax on the value of non-resident, non-Canadian residential real estate. We are introducing a two-year ban on foreign investment in Canadian residential real estate. We are committed to reviewing the tax treatment of real estate investment trusts. We are launching a federal review of housing as an asset class. On this side of the House, we are committed to making housing more affordable by doing our part to tackle the financialization of housing.

(House of Commons Debates, 29 September 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 29 septembre 2022)

v. Pipelines / Oléoducs

Mr. John Brassard (Barrie — Innisfil):

Enbridge Line 5 provides more than 50% of the fuel to eastern Canada. An application was filed in the U.S. federal court to shut down this pipeline. … If Line 5 is shut down, there will surely be gas shortages and spikes in the price of gas that will cause an already unaffordable situation for families and businesses to get much worse. [Is the government] going to fight this or are they just going to roll over on Line 5 like they did with Keystone XL?

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Natural Resources):

[T]he continued operation of Line 5 is non-negotiable. We will take appropriate steps to ensure the continued safe operation of this critical infrastructure, and we will continue to work closely with the owner of Line 5. Canada and the United States continue to be engaged in a process under the 1977 transit pipelines agreement to ensure the continued operation of Line 5, and until this issue is resolved, I will continue to raise it with my U.S. counterparts, as I have been doing on an ongoing basis.

(House of Commons Debates, 6 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 6 mai 2022)

Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich — Gulf Islands):

[R]egarding government financing of the TMX pipeline, in written answers to Questions on the Order Paper, the government is claiming that BMO and TD reviews make this project financially viable, but due to commercial confidentiality it will not release them. Previous TD reports on TMX were public. Why hide them now? … If it is so commercially viable, why can we not see the reports?

Hon. Randy Boissonnault (Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance):

Canadians know how important it is to get our product to market and to tidewater. The government does not intend to be the long-term owner of the Trans Mountain pipeline. This is a project that has led to 12,700 jobs, and once completed, Canadians will enjoy full price for our oil on the world market. A divestment process will be undertaken once this project is essentially de-risked and once consultations with Indigenous people conclude.

(House of Commons Debates, 16 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 16 juin 2022)

vi. Tourism / Tourisme

M. Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis):

[L]es secteurs du tourisme et du voyage ont été durement touchés par la pandémie. Les entreprises et organisations œuvrant dans ces domaines sont excitées et ont hâte de pouvoir accueillir et faire déplacer davantage des gens vaccinés. Le premier ministre peut-il nous en dire plus sur l’assouplissement des mesures sanitaires aux aéroports?

Le très hon. Justin Trudeau (premier ministre):

Nos mesures pour les voyageurs évoluent au fur et à mesure de l’évolution de la pandémie et des recommandations de la santé publique. C’est pour cela que, à compter du 28 février, nous allons lever l’interdiction des vols vers tous les aéroports qui reçoivent normalement des vols internationaux. Cela va aider à soutenir le tourisme local et contribuer à la création de bons emplois et à la croissance de notre économie.

(House of Commons Debates, 16 February 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 16 février 2022)

Ms. Michelle Ferreri (Peterborough — Kawartha):

When will the Prime Minister give Canadians a plan and a timeline on when federal vaccine mandates will be dropped?

Hon. Omar Alghabra (Minister of Transport):

Canadians support doing everything we can at our borders to protect the health and safety of Canadians, and also to protect our economy. Prior to yesterday, we were testing all arriving non-U.S. travellers to make sure that incomers were fully vaccinated and not carrying the virus. Yesterday we changed these measures. Based on advice we received from public health experts, we no longer test every traveller, and we are now accepting antigen tests for travellers. That is great news for travellers.

(House of Commons Debates, 1 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 1er mars 2022)

vii. Trade/Transport agreements / Accords commerciaux et de transport

(a) India / Inde

Mr. Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey — Newton):

[W]hat steps [is] our government taking to make it easier for Canadians to travel to India?

Hon. Omar Alghabra (Minister of Transport):

Yesterday, I announced that Canada is amending the Canada-India Air Transport Agreement to move toward an unlimited number of weekly flights. This will increase the option for Canadian travellers who want to travel to India. My colleague and I agree that we would like to see a direct flight from Canada to Amritsar. I have raised this issue with my Indian counterpart. We will continue to advocate for this until we see more options for Canadians.

(House of Commons Debates, 15 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 15 novembre 2022)

(b) Indo-Pacific / Indo-Pacifique

M. Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval — Les Îles):

Est-ce que le premier ministre peut en dire plus à la Chambre et aux Canadiens sur les investissements historiques de notre gouvernement pour accroître la présence canadienne dans l’Indo-Pacifique?

Le très hon. Justin Trudeau (premier ministre):

La semaine dernière, nous avons annoncé plusieurs investissements, notamment 750 millions de dollars pour mettre en place des projets d’infrastructure durable et de qualité dans les pays en développement et 45 millions de dollars pour lancer une série de missions commerciales d’Équipe Canada. Nous allons aussi lancer notre stratégie indopacifique dans les prochaines semaines. Nous allons continuer de renforcer notre présence dans la région et créer de bons emplois des deux côtés du Pacifique.

(House of Commons Debates, 23 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 23 novembre 2022)

(c) Philippines

Mrs. Rechie Valdez (Mississauga — Streetsville):

[W]hat [is] our government doing to strengthen our economic and commercial relationships with the Philippines and Filipino-Canadian businesses?

Hon. Mary Ng (Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development):

[T]his weekend Canada and the Philippines signed an agreement to establish a joint economic commission. The Philippines is a growing, dynamic market in the Indo-Pacific region. This is going to help Canadian businesses of all sizes export more into this market and become more competitive globally. We will also continue to build the people-to-people ties, with over a million Filipino-Canadians who call Canada home. I want to say to those entrepreneurs that this is a great way to kick off Asian Heritage Month.

(House of Commons Debates, 3 May 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 3 mai 2022)

(d) United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni

Mr. Han Dong (Don Valley North):

Can the minister update us on her recent activities in diversifying our trade relations with the United Kingdom?

Hon. Mary Ng (Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development):

I was very pleased to welcome the honorary secretary of trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, for her first official visit to Canada this week, celebrating the long-standing relationship between Canada and the United Kingdom. Today, Canada and the United Kingdom officially launched negotiations toward a new high-standard and progressive free trade agreement. Canada looks forward to negotiating an agreement that will benefit our people and our economies. It will help businesses of all sizes and entrepreneurs on both sides of the Atlantic reach new export markets.

(House of Commons Debates, 24 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 24 mars 2022)

viii. Trade in weapons / Ventes d’armes

Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona):

[T]he war in Yemen has raged for seven years. … Canada continues to export weapons to Saudi Arabia despite those weapons being used in Yemen. In fact, the United Nations Human Rights Council has twice named Canada as one of the states fuelling this war. Canada must stop exporting weapons to Saudi Arabia. Will the minister commit to doing this?

Hon. Mélanie Joly (Minister of Foreign Affairs):

Canada remains deeply concerned about the situation in Yemen. It supports a political solution as the only way to end the ongoing conflict and horrendous humanitarian crisis. The Government of Canada is committed to a stronger and more rigorous arms export system. This is why we have acceded to the Arms Trade Treaty. Human rights considerations are now at the centre of our export regime. I, as minister, will deny any permit application where there is a substantial risk of human rights violations.

(House of Commons Debates, 25 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 25 mars 2022)

ix. World Trade Organization / Organisation mondiale du commerce

Mr. Randy Hoback (Prince Albert):

What is the government’s plan to ensure th[e upcoming] WTO [World Trade Organization] ministerial conference is used to further isolate Putin and his aggression?

Hon. Mary Ng (Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development):

Canada was the first country to revoke Russia’s and Belarus’s most favoured nation status as trading partners under Canadian law. Canada then worked with our allies to lead a WTO statement condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that called on WTO members to suspend Russia’s most favoured nation status and to suspend Russia’s ascension to the WTO.

(House of Commons Debates, 1 April 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 1er avril 2022)

Mr. Chad Collins (Hamilton East — Stoney Creek):

As the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development just returned from the WTO last week, could she give us an update on the outcome of the 12th ministerial conference?

Hon. Mary Ng (Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development):

Canada is indeed a trading country. One out of six jobs depend on international trade. I just returned from a historical ministerial conference at the World Trade Organization, where we reached several multilateral agreements with all 164 member countries unanimously. I will give members a couple of highlights. We worked to adopt a response to the COVID-19 pandemic so that the WTO can be more resilient in future pandemics, including reaching a consensus on the TRIPS waiver. We also reached an agreement so we can work on the impasse of the appellate system, which Canada and our companies depend on so much. This is multilateral trading at its best[.]

(House of Commons Debates, 21 June 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 21 juin 2022)

H. Law of the sea / Droit de la mer

i. Hong Kong Convention / Convention de Hong Kong

Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay — Alberni):

[A] ship-breaking facility has opened up in the community of Union Bay in my riding. This process involves the disassembling of large vessels, container ships and barges for the extraction of raw materials, mostly for scrap. The lack of federal regulations to protect workers and the ecosystem is apparent and has caused huge concern for local residents, governments and first nations. While the U.S., the EU and other countries have signed on to international agreements, Canada is without these necessary protections. Will the Minister of Transport commit to ensuring that facilities like these have strong standards in place to keep workers and the local environment safe?

Ms. Annie Koutrakis (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport):

[O]ur government has taken a number of steps to make sure that our oceans and waterways are safe, including the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act. The International Maritime Organization has adopted the Hong Kong convention, which aims to create new requirements for the disposing and recycling of ships. Although the convention is not yet in force, Transport Canada is currently analyzing it in the context of strengthening federal regulations, labour and environmental protection and areas related to provincial and territorial jurisdiction.

(House of Commons Debates, 4 March 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 4 mars 2022)

ii. Ocean Protection Plan / Plan de protection des océans

Mr. Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey — Newton):

Can the honorary minister inform the House of further ways that our government is keeping our waters safe from coast to coast to coast?

Hon. Omar Alghabra (Minister of Transport):

Ten days ago, I joined my colleagues in B.C., including the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, to announce $1.2 billion for the next phase of the renewed oceans protection plan, which includes 29 new initiatives that will strengthen marine safety. Our government continues to be committed to meaningful work with Indigenous peoples and coastal communities so that we can ensure our oceans remain safe for all.

(House of Commons Debates, 28 November 2022)

(Débats de la Chambre des Communes, 28 novembre 2022)