Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, my question
is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Only the Minister of Foreign Affairs
could tell the House whether or not the government intends to follow up on what
the Prime Minister has been saying in China by co-sponsoring a resolution at
the upcoming meeting of the UN commission on human rights.
Could the minister tell the House whether or not it is the intention of the
government to co-sponsor such a resolution?
Hon. John Manley (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
the meeting lies well out into the future. We still do not have any proposed
text or language.
As is always the case, before we make a decision on whether or not we would
co-sponsor, we would want to look at the language that is proposed and decide
whether it meets the objectives that Canada would want to pursue.
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I must say
that is a pretty timid response when we consider the way the government is
prepared to stand up to Brazil. Perhaps, if we could get China to do something
to Bombardier, we would have a whole different foreign policy.
While I am talking about big corporations, I notice that CIDA has given a
grant of 0,000 to Monsanto for a project in China. Is the minister
responsible aware of this, and does she approve of this kind of corporate
welfare?
Hon. Maria Minna (Minister for International Cooperation, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, China had already approved the use of Bt cotton in the country. China
asked Canada to provide Canadian know-how and expertise to ensure the
appropriate use and management of this crop.
The project is consistent with Canada's biotechnology guidelines. We adhere
to them 100%. CIDA did not provide money directly to Monsanto.
