CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 141 Ï NUMBER 173 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Monday, June 18, 2007 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 10721 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, June 18, 2007 The House met at 11 a.m. training centre to be self-sufficient. The Bloc Québécois thinks it is important for the federal government to subsidize this centre. In March, the Bloc Québécois was pleased with the Conservative government's decision to give the Pearson Centre $13.8 million over Prayers three years, from March 2007 to March 2010. This funding was for the basic infrastructure of the centre: salaries, rent, equipment, etc. The funding does not cover the projects and courses offered by the PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS centre. It is piecemeal. For example, CIDA is responsible for funding conferences in Canada and abroad. Ï (1105) [Translation] PEARSON PEACEKEEPING CENTRE Until recently, the Department of National Defence funded training courses on peacekeeping missions at the Cornwallis office The House resumed from May 7 consideration of the motion. in Nova Scotia. Located outside major centres in a small community, Ms. Caroline St-Hilaire (Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, BQ): the advantage of this site is that simulations for the purposes of Mr. Speaker, the motion that was introduced by our Liberal exercises can be held without disturbing people in the surrounding colleague from West Nova and is before us today is very positive, areas. in my opinion. The proposal that the federal government fully fund the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre does not seem like a whim to me, because the centre's mission is fully in line with the Bloc Québécois The Department of National Defence has decided to stop funding position on foreign development assistance. the training courses at the Cornwallis office, saying that National As you know, political, geographical and religious conflicts cause Defence will provide training itself at the base in Kingston. serious harm to people, and even one conflict is one too many. The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre was created at the federal govern- ment's request in 1994, when a number of countries bordering The only purpose of the Cornwallis office was to provide training. Germany and Russia were in a rather unstable and fragile state after Without federal funding for these courses, the Cornwallis office may the fall of the eastern bloc. The centre's mission is to train civilians, have to close its doors. Training is at the very heart of the Pearson military personnel and police officers for peacekeeping missions and Peacekeeping Centre's mandate. The Cornwallis section is very to promote research in order to guide public policy debate. important and the upheaval that will result from closing this section could be very damaging to the centre. The increasing demands of conflict prevention and resolution, and the growing scope of Canada's involvement in all aspects of peace operations required the creation of a focal point for education, The importance of the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre should not be training, and research activities. The teaching environment needed to underestimated. The training and policy directions there are directly be multidisciplinary and international, providing a location where related to the policy Canada has been developing since the days of persons from different professional, cultural and national back- Pearson, whose goal it was in the 1950s to devote 0.7% of gross grounds could learn together. This diversity reflects actual field domestic product to development assistance—an objective I would conditions. The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre was established in point out has still not been met, unfortunately. Nova Scotia in 1995 and expanded in 1999, opening an office in Montreal to better serve the international francophone community. In November 2003, recognizing the importance of having a presence The development assistance envelope has not stopped shrinking, close to the seat of government, the centre opened a liaison office in going from a little less than 0.5% in 1991-92 to 0.45% in 1993 and Ottawa. Most of the centre's official courses are given abroad, in 0.25% in 2000. Africa, eastern Europe and Latin America. Unfortunately, the centre has always had funding problems. When it was created in 1994, it was supposed to be financially self- The decrease was particularly significant when the Liberals were sufficient by 1999. It has proven to be difficult for a peacekeeping in power, but the Conservatives have not managed to do much better. 10722 COMMONS DEBATES June 18, 2007 Private Members' Business Through the debate on the motion, I want to reiterate today that Cornwallis Park, Nova Scotia is an ideal location for a training the Bloc Québécois is committed to having the federal government facility, given its retreat-like atmosphere. The facilities of the implement a realistic and concrete plan to achieve the UN target of Annapolis Basin Conference Centre and the many services and 0.7% of GDP for international assistance by 2015. To reach this, the amenities at Cornwallis support the work of the centre and provide Conservatives must start increasing development assistance budgets the needs for staff and visitors. The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre now, at an average rate of 12% to 15% per year. generates employment and contributes significantly to the economy of southwest Nova Scotia. The Bloc Québécois' desire to see this happen is genuine , since we have worked long and hard to improve Bill C-293 to make the development assistance objectives as clear and effective as possible, The real work of the PPC is of increasing relevance. Peacekeeping by proposing that the federal government make all bilateral and the environment in which it is conducted has evolved assistance dependent on respecting fundamental human rights, but significantly since the peacekeeping mission some 50 years ago. also ensure that the money is not diverted from its original purpose. In this changing environment, the PPC's contribution to preparing military, police and civilians to develop and deliver effective peace The Bloc Québécois believes that, given the importance of the operations worldwide is more important than ever. Pearson Centre, the government should work with it to ensure a seamless transition from DND funding of training courses to other funding. The federal government should provide full funding The PPC operates with funding from DND and CIDA. In March temporarily, until the Centre can find new clients to fund its training 2005, the federal Liberals announced $20 million in funding to courses. The federal government has the means to fund this Centre. support the PPC over the next five years. In November 2006, the Minister of Defence, during a committee of the whole, stated that his Under no circumstances should the Conservative government department would meet its share of the funding required to maintain reverse its decision to fund the basic infrastructure of the Pearson the centre at Cornwallis. Peacekeeping Centre. Because the Bloc Québécois has always supported initiatives Support for this motion would honour the current government's aimed at resolving conflicts through dialogue and mediation, the commitment to maintain funding to the centre. More important, it Bloc Québécois supports Motion M-311. would send a clear message that the members of this House recognize the importance of the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre to the Ï (1110) province of Nova Scotia and to this nation. It is so important for our [English] international reputation that we ensure the Pearson Peacekeeping Hon. Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am Centre is properly funded. pleased to say a few words on behalf of my hon. colleague from West Nova who cannot be here today but who understands fully how Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister important this is to his riding, to the province of Nova Scotia and to of Foreign Affairs, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to the country as a whole. voice my support for the Lester B. Pearson Canadian international peacekeeping centre. As we are aware, the peacekeeping missions started over 50 years ago and they have certainly done a lot for this great nation. The motion before the House seeks continued support for this Since his election to the House in 2000, my colleague from West unique institution. This government is doing just that, while also Nova has been working to secure long term funding for the Pearson remaining fiscally responsible to Canadian taxpayers. Peacekeeping Centre, an important Canadian institution. Motion No. 311 calls upon the House to fully fund the Pearson The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, or the PPC, is helping to Peacekeeping Centre to assure its continued operation in Nova sustain a longstanding Canadian tradition. I am sure my colleagues Scotia. in the House share my pride in Canada's vast experience and formidable reputation in support of peace operations. The PPC was established as an independent, not for profit organization by the Government of Canada in 1994 on the site of former Canadian Forces Base Cornwallis in southwest Nova Scotia. Canadians have been actively involved in peacekeeping since The facility is recognized as a world leader in peace operation 1947. In fact, since that time there has not been a single year when research, education and training. The PPC is headquartered in Canadian troops have not been overseas. They have been deployed Cornwallis with offices in Ottawa and Montreal. Cornwallis is also abroad to stand between belligerents, supervise truces, demobilize the venue for residential courses and military simulation exercises. and help reintegrate armed factions, remove landmines, and help provide humanitarian assistance, among other things.