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House Hansard - 42

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 21, 2022 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 42 - Mar/21/22
Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, Lib.)
  • Mar/21/22 6:32:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague for Spadina—Fort York has raised an incredibly important question. We continue unequivocally to condemn President Putin's unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine. Our hearts break as we hear about untold suffering, particularly in cities such as Mariupol, where thousands of people are trapped without electricity, water, gas or a way of communicating with their loved ones. The most vulnerable are in need of humanitarian assistance. This is why Canada is deeply concerned with the ongoing challenge to ensure humanitarian access to besieged cities and to help those who are trapped to meet their immediate and most basic humanitarian needs. Canada will continue to call on Russia to uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law to allow humanitarian access and to facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance to those in need. Canada has consistently supported the humanitarian response in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries such as Poland since 2014. Our funding has been provided to experienced humanitarian partners, including United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which are all working to help the most vulnerable people in Ukraine. We saw a dramatic rise in civilian casualties and humanitarian consequences last month, as a result of Russia's invasion and disregard for international humanitarian law. We remain steadfast in our commitment to alleviating their suffering and protecting human dignity. In 2022 to date, Canada has committed $145 million to supporting the humanitarian response in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. Of this amount, $95 million has been allocated to experienced Red Cross, UN and non-governmental humanitarian partners. This includes a very successful $30-million matching fund with the Canadian Red Cross. To respond to requests for in-kind assistance from the ministry of health of Ukraine, Global Affairs Canada is coordinating with provincial and interdepartmental partners to support the donation of relief supplies that can be effectively integrated into humanitarian response operations through international partners. This will support a coordinated international response, which has been rapidly scaling up, and make use of the supply pipelines that are already being established to deliver relief items. Through these pipelines, Canada's in-kind assistance will be channelled directly to the needs of the most vulnerable in Ukraine and in the region. Given the scope of the crisis, there is an increasing need to provide international support to countries on the front line, such as Moldova and Poland. To support their efforts, Canada is providing unearmarked funding to key humanitarian partners to help provide immediate services to refugees in support of host government-led responses. In conclusion, Canada's commitment to stand united with those affected by the conflict in Ukraine is clear. We are continuing to work in close collaboration with our allies and our humanitarian partners on the ground to monitor the development of this rapidly evolving crisis.
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Context: House Hansard - 42 - Mar/21/22
Ms. Anita Vandenbeld
  • Mar/21/22 6:36:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to address the humanitarian needs in Ukraine as well as the needs of those who have fled to neighbouring countries. We reiterate our deep concern for the increasing number of civilian casualties as well as for the growing number of people crossing the border into neighbouring countries in search of safety, and we continue to call for safe passage for the most vulnerable as well as for the principal delivery of humanitarian assistance. Let there be no doubt: Canada's commitment to stand in solidarity with Ukraine is demonstrably clear. Our significant support, both financial and in kind, is critical to supporting our humanitarian partners in addressing the most pressing humanitarian needs on the ground in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. We are prepared to provide additional assistance if and as required.
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