Foreign Affairs Committee on Nov. 21st, 2024

[Shalini Anand]

Mr. Chair, I acknowledge the comments the honourable member has made on behalf of Haitian Canadians. I would also acknowledge that it has been challenging to find willing and engaged partners, and we are very grateful to the Kenyans who have stepped up to play a valiant role in this process.

I take note of the language barrier and certainly can reflect on whether or not there is anything Canada can do about that piece of the puzzle, but I would note that, per the deployments list I read out, there are a number of other deployments and battalions coming from the region. Those might not all adequately address the language piece of the puzzle, but we have worked very hard to ensure that there is a regional effort behind this, and a number of other countries that I had named have also stepped up in that regard.

I will turn to my colleague in case she has anything to add.

[Sylvie Bédard]

I would briefly like to add that the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, ou OIF, offers basic French training for all members of the Multinational Security Support Mission. It won't enable them to become bilingual overnight, but it's appreciated and makes interoperability possible between members of the Haitian National Police and those of the Multinational Security Support Mission.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I recognize that this is very complex. As I said, this is me trying to do my best to raise the concerns that have been raised to me and to my team.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

At this point, we're done with questions. I want to thank you on behalf of all of the members.

I also want to emphasize that Haiti has been a country of ongoing interest to every member of this committee. We have revisited the situation in Haiti over the course of the past several years, and it's very regrettable that, for a country that has deep bonds of friendship with Haiti and a country that is blessed to have a large Haitian community, we constantly hear how the situation is deteriorating and that stability is not returning at the pace that we would all like to see.

I'm sure I speak on behalf of all members of this committee when I say that Haiti can't just be seen as a human resource issue. We really have to commit ourselves to making sure that other countries in the hemisphere are also fully engaged and fully committed to assisting in bringing stability. When we hear about Doctors Without Borders and the situation they found themselves in several days ago, that is very disconcerting. I certainly hope that next time we have the opportunity for a briefing, we will hear that we're committing more diplomatic muscle to this and that there is better news on the horizon.

Thank you very much for your time.

Before members leave, I have one quick question. Given that we've all agreed to allot an extra meeting to an examination of Bill C-353 and that we are going to be hearing from external witnesses, is it the will of the committee that all proposed amendments to Bill C-353 be submitted to the clerk no later than noon on Thursday, November 28, 2024?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

That's excellent. Is the committee in agreement to adjourn our meeting today?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.