UN Peacekeeping Missions
MP James Bezan (Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman) criticized the Liberal government on Canada’s lack of participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping missions. He questioned why the Liberal government has turned down five UN leadership roles and has not committed to a single UN mission, despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promised commitment of 600 troops. In response, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, MP Matt DeCourcey (Fredericton), stated that the government is taking its time to decide what mission Canada will lead.

International Development
MP Peter Kent (Thornhill) raised concern as to why the Liberals were funding the UN Relief and Works Agency when it funds two schools in Gaza that were found to have a Hamas-run tunnel in between them. MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes (Whitby), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, stated that this was investigated and it was shown that there was no access to the property.

Two-Year Conditional Permanent Residence for Sponsored Spouses
MP Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre) spoke about the Standing Committee’s findings on Citizenship and Immigration, specifically in regards to the two-year conditional permanent residence for sponsored spouses. MP Zahid stated that the Committee found that the condition can leave some spouses, particularly women, with no option but to stay in abusive relationships for fear of jeopardising their immigration status. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, MP Ahmed Hussen (York South-Weston) stated that the measure, introduced in 2012, has been eliminated completely. He reiterated that the government is committed to gender equality and to combating gender-based violence.

Safe Third Country Agreement and Donald Trump’s New Executive Order Regarding Immigration 
After a new immigration order was issued by the Trump administration, MP Anne Minh-Thu Quach (NDP) asked if the Canadian government will suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement, give border services and border communities more resources, and what the government plans to do to manage the ongoing influx of irregular migrants. Minister of Immigration Ahmed Hussen responded by stating that since the domestic asylum system in the United States is intact, it would be irresponsible to withdraw from the agreement. MP Jenny Kwan (NDP) stated that many refugees no longer feel that the U.S. is a safe country for them because of Trump's anti-refugee and Islamophobic rhetoric. MP Serge Cormier (Liberal) reiterated that the Safe Third Country Agreement remains an important tool for Canada and the U.S. to work together on handling of refugee claims and that it would be irresponsible to withdraw from the agreement. MP Cormier stated that the government will continue to monitor the situation and will work with the United States as it reviews parts of its resettlement program.