:
I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 122 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format.
I'd like to remind participants of the following points. Please do wait until I recognize you by name before you speak. Also, members, if you are joining us virtually, you should raise your hand if you wish to speak.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted on Thursday, October 3, 2024, the committee commences a briefing on the current situation in Lebanon.
I'd like to welcome our three witnesses.
We're very grateful to have here, from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Mr. Sébastien Beaulieu, acting assistant deputy minister for emergency management, legal and consular affairs; Mr. Alexandre Lévêque, assistant deputy minister, Europe, Middle East and Arctic branch; and Ms. Teresa Crockett, acting executive director for accountability, human rights and United Nations law.
I understand that only one of you will be making opening remarks.
Mr. Lévêque, you're a pro at this. You have been here many times. You will have five minutes for your opening remarks, after which we will open it to the members for questions.
Mr. Lévêque, thank you for being here. The floor is yours.
:
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Honourable members of the committee, I want to thank you for inviting us today to speak about the situation in Lebanon.
[Translation]
As you know, Canada and Lebanon have very close ties. The Lebanese community in Canada numbers over 200,000 people, while more than 50,000 Canadians live in Lebanon.
[English]
This year marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between both countries. Since 2023, Canada has celebrated Lebanese Heritage Month in November. This year, however, it will take place against a backdrop of a devastating situation in the country.
The escalating conflict has already had a severe impact. Over 2,500 people have been killed, and 9,000 people have been injured. Over 1.2 million people have been displaced from their homes.
[Translation]
We express our heartfelt condolences to all the families and communities affected by the violence. We are sad to hear of the deaths of Canadian citizens.
[English]
Since the beginning of the conflict, Canada has expressed its concern with the ongoing fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. Not only is it having a disproportionate impact on civilians on both sides of the blue line separating Israel and Lebanon, but it also poses a significant threat to security and stability in the wider region.
[Translation]
Along with our G7 partners, Canada is advocating for a ceasefire to pave the way for a diplomatic solution. We have also reaffirmed our full support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, and the critical role it plays in promoting a settlement that complies with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
[English]
Canada remains committed to diplomacy as the only suitable path to stabilize the Israel-Lebanon border; to fully restore the sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability of Lebanon; and to return displaced citizens to their homes with safety and security in both Lebanon and Israel.
Canada firmly condemns Hezbollah's continued attacks on Israel. We cannot forget that one of the stated goals of Hezbollah, a listed terrorist entity, is the very destruction of the State of Israel.
Hezbollah's attacks on Israel serve only to further destabilize the region. As such, Canada supports Israel's right to self-defence in accordance with international law. Indeed, all parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and security of civilians, as well as the protection of first responders and UNIFIL personnel. Like our G7 partners, Canada was dismayed by the Israel Defense Forces' attacks affecting the UNIFIL positions along the Blue Line.
[Translation]
The humanitarian impact of the conflict in Lebanon is enormous. In 2024, Canada has committed nearly $50 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon. The displaced population includes Syrian refugees, some of whom have started to return to Syria. Canada insists that any return of refugees must be safe, dignified and voluntary, in accordance with international law.
[English]
The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is unfolding while it already grapples with a severe political and economic domestic crisis. Poverty in Lebanon has more than tripled over the past decade, reaching 44% of the total population. Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022. Canada has been a steady partner in addressing Lebanon's longer-term development challenges while urging it to elect a president, form a new government and enact essential reforms without delay. Since 2016, Canada has allocated over $136 million in development assistance to Lebanon under the Middle East strategy.
[Translation]
Canada has also funded peace and security programs in Lebanon. In co-operation with the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, we are providing training, equipment and infrastructure to the Lebanese armed forces so that they can counter terrorist and transnational criminal threats while ensuring the integrity and security of Lebanon's borders.
[English]
Finally, Canada remains concerned about the thousands of Canadians currently living in Lebanon. Since October 2023, we have been advising Canadians to avoid all travel to Lebanon or, for those who are there, to leave while commercial options remain available. The department has also improved its contingency planning with other government departments and like-minded partners, including a non-combatant evacuation operation, if required.
As the security situation deteriorated in late September, Global Affairs Canada facilitated options for Canadians, permanent residents and their eligible family members to leave Lebanon. As a result, over 1,500 departures were facilitated, including for 300 internationals. The Government of Canada continues to provide information about departure opportunities on commercial flights out of Lebanon.
[Translation]
I look forward to your questions.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for appearing in front of our committee.
You mentioned that you facilitated 1,500 departures from Lebanon. Is that correct?
By “departures”, does that mean...?
Let me ask the question differently: How many flights have you facilitated leaving Lebanon? How many seats have been on those flights? What portion was filled by Canadian citizens and permanent residents? What portion was filled by other foreign nationals? What percentage has been empty?
That's my first question.
:
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank members for allowing me to come in for the hour. I am of Lebanese origin.
First, thank you very much for being here to brief us parliamentarians on something that is so significant and so important to many of us but also on the historical perspective between Canada and Lebanon. I very much appreciate your opening remarks. This year we celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and Lebanon. Furthermore, Lebanese people have been in Canada since the 1880s. It's been 140 years, so these relations are not happening overnight. It's been a long-standing and, I would say, very good relationship.
I want to also give a shout-out here, which people have asked me to do, to Middle East Airlines, the only commercial airline that has continued to stand tall and assist people in either leaving, coming in or bringing food or anything to Lebanon at the airport. Thank you to Middle East Airlines.
I also want to give a shout-out to the assisted departure that Canada has helped in. In fact, it has helped some of my constituents who made it out and did come back to Halifax. Thank you for that.
I want to go to diplomacy, which you hinted at, and to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. I'm sure there are many of them. Where do you see Canada? What else can Canada do to bring peace and bring a resolution and help Lebanon get back its independence and sovereignty? I want to give you an opportunity to tell me what else Canada can do.
:
Thank you for the question.
The first thing I would say in answer to that is that Canada's role in Lebanon, or anywhere in the world for that matter, will always be stronger and more effective when we can act with a large number of partners. In the context of multilateral....
You mentioned resolution 1701. These days, resolution 1701 has been violated by just about every party along and on either side of the Blue Line. Our efforts, diplomatically, are about engaging like-minded partners in as wide a coalition as possible to blow some winds in the sails of these resolutions and to give them as many teeth as possible.
However, to be honest, this is not a situation where we're just starting to step up and realize that Lebanon needs assistance. We have been partners for a very long time. I alluded in my opening remarks to the fact that we've been a development partner of Lebanon's for a long time. We've consistently been among the top five donors in Lebanon.
This is for both security programming.... We've been supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, providing it with equipment and training. We've provided a lot of development assistance by way of economic and social programming. In particular, this year, a lot has been done in the humanitarian field. You will have seen, of course, the latest call just a couple of weeks ago, when we announced a matching fund for two major Canadian humanitarian organizations.
:
That's an excellent question.
The reference to the Paris ministerial meeting that just wrapped up two or three hours ago is a good hook, because France's desire with that conference was, first of all, to put a spotlight on the situation and, in particular, to rally a number of countries to do more to support the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The fact of the matter is that the southern part of Lebanon is largely occupied by Hezbollah forces. That is obviously the part that Israel is at war with. Israel does not want war with Lebanon. Israel is in a fight with Hezbollah and has gone further and deeper into the country to fight Hezbollah bases and centres of operation.
One of the things that we, as the international community, really want to do is reinforce the role, the training and the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces so that it can substitute Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon. If that substitution were to take place and the Lebanese Armed Forces could be entrusted to guarantee security in the southern part of the country, Israel would feel much greater security. That could lead to a political process, better diplomacy and eventually negotiations on border demarcation.
Thank you so much to the officials from Global Affairs Canada for being with us today and enlightening us on the situation and Canada's response. I think our objective here is not to try to back anyone into a corner, but to get a clear understanding of the situation.
Earlier, my colleague Michael Chong made a comparison with the figure from 2006, when we evacuated approximately 15,000 people. In the situation before us today, 1,200 people were assisted or evacuated, if I understand correctly.
What was the rationale for evacuating 15,000 people in 2006, and why wouldn't that rationale be just as valid today?
:
I understand your question better.
The answer is essentially that, at the time the evacuation was launched in 2006, there was no way for Canadian nationals to leave Lebanon on commercial transportation. As my colleague Mr. Beaulieu explained, dozens, if not hundreds, of flights a day are leaving Beirut right now.
The port and the airport are operational. Central transportation networks still exist and are operational, so everyone can leave the country by commercial means, which is more economical as well as safer.
:
Thank you. That is very enlightening.
When you appeared before our committee for the study of Canada's sanctions regime, you explained that the ultimate objective of the regime is to effect a change in the behaviour of the offending party, but also to constrict its ability to act financially and economically.
I fear that Canada has a problem when it comes to credibility and consistency. It cited respect for the rule of law, the rules of international law and the sovereignty of states as a reason to stand up for Ukraine when Russia engaged in illegitimate, illegal and unjustified aggression against sovereign Ukrainian territory. However, it is less vocal about Israel's violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon, a member state of the United Nations.
Wouldn't it be appropriate to put sanctions in place to, as you put it, effect a change in the behaviour of the offending party and constrict its ability to act financially and economically?
The two situations the member just mentioned are comparable in some respects, but there are also some limits.
It's also important to keep in mind the concept of self-defence. It is entirely legitimate for a country to defend itself against attacks on its territory.
I'll remind you that Hezbollah, in support of Hamas, launched hundreds of missiles and shells into Israeli territory the very next day, October 8, 2023. A year and a few months later, thousands of shells, missiles and drones have been launched into Israeli territory. That's why I'm saying the two situations are not the same.
The fact that Israel felt the need to attack positions in southern Lebanon, which the Lebanese armed forces do not control, is part of self-defence. Israel was trying to push back Hezbollah, which poses a constant threat and is preventing the return of 60,000 to 80,000 Israelis living close to the border with Lebanon.
Now, what the government has pointed out on a number of occasions is that it has to be done with restraint and always with a view to sparing civilians as much as possible. That is one of the messages you've heard repeatedly from the government and in a number of national and multilateral media releases.
:
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I want to start by saying that my sympathies are with you, Ms. Diab and Mr. El-Khoury, and all of those Lebanese Canadian and Lebanese people who are suffering right now. I know how worried the community is. I know how worried you are for your loved ones and for the country of Lebanon. I wanted to express that.
I also want to make it very clear that what Hezbollah and Hamas are doing is obviously terrorist. They are obvious terrorist organizations, and they are, obviously, being armed by another terrorist entity, which is the Iranian regime. That said, I have some questions about the behaviour of Israel. The Financial Times has reported that Israel has used the incendiary chemical white phosphorus in attacks on a UN base, which has injured 15 peacekeepers.
Can you confirm these reports?
:
Thank you for your question.
To conduct such an operation on sovereign territory and establish a multinational force there, you obviously have to be invited by the country that controls the territory. To my knowledge, no such proposal has ever been formally made within the United Nations. That said, there is a multinational force, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which has huge support. That support has gotten stronger recently, including at the UN Security Council.
Given that the security infrastructure in southern Lebanon is weak because the armed forces controlling the territory are Hezbollah armed forces, the international community is determined to strengthen UNIFIL. Canada fully supports that. It has expressed its support both at the United Nations and here in a very public and bilateral way.
That concludes the questions from the members. However, I want to ask one last question, if I may.
You have shared with us all of the humanitarian assistance Canada is providing. You also touched on the security assistance we're providing. I want to follow up on the question asked by Ms. Diab.
Given the scale of the devastation, and the concern that is quite palpable around this table and indeed across the country, is there anything more we can do diplomatically? Are there any convening powers that we might have or anything we can do to see a de-escalation and make sure the world is there for them?