Foreign Affairs

Thursday October 18, 2001

Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg--Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister of Justice a question, but as she said she will be in committee later, so my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It has to do with Canada's participation in the military coalition against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

    What are the foreseeable goals of the coalition and, if the goals change or if they go beyond what I have just described, is it the intention of the government to argue for a more explicit UN approval of any expansion of the campaign in which the Canadian forces are now involved?

    Hon. John Manley (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the question relates to the responsibility of the Minister of National Defence, but let me say that we have entered into this coalition to support the purpose of attacking the roots of terrorism which have been exposed as a result of the attacks of September 11, that being Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda network. That is the purpose of our engagement in the effort being led by the United States, and it is under the authorization of existing United Nations Security Council resolutions and that will be the foundation for proceeding.

    Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg--Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that if the action is expanded that might be grounds for further consultation with the UN. However, I would like to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs this.

    I am sure he shares the distress that all of us feel on this side that the window for peace in the Middle East that was there last week, we talk of a Palestinian state, has now been eclipsed by renewed violence and assassination in that area of the world.

    Could he tell the House what the message of Canada is to the parties to that conflict and what the government will do to be of help in that very difficult situation?

    Hon. John Manley (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question. I think we all look to the region as being a key to the efforts as well that are going on to resist terrorism.

    We of course have expressed our concern and our sympathy to the government of Israel as a result of the assassination which occurred yesterday. We are calling on the parties, both the Israeli and the Palestinian authority, to show restraint at this critical time. We are asking that the discussions, which were showing some promise and which were being undertaken by the two sides, be allowed to proceed.