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Foreign Affairs

Question period touched on Canada’s relations with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The Bloc Québécois said the Prime Minister should not describe Turkey’s government as sharing Canada’s values, pointing to its treatment of LGBTQ+ people, journalists and Kurds, and asked why Canada would host the UAE’s crown prince the same day Canada condemned the Rapid Support Forces’ violence in Sudan, given the UAE’s arms supply to that group. The Liberals said engagement with other countries does not imply approval and creates opportunities to press human rights concerns, and that the Prime Minister would be meeting with the UAE to continue those conversations.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister said Canada and Turkey share values like human rights and democracy. Turkey harms LGBTQ+ people, puts journalists and rivals in prison, and attacks Kurds. The Prime Minister should not use our reputation to make Turkey's government look good.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister travelled to Turkey to strike a deal with President Erdoğan’s authoritarian regime. He stated that Canada and Turkey have shared values, including “human rights, individual freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law”. The fact of the matter is that the Turkish regime persecutes LGBTQ+ people. It imprisons political opponents and journalists. It is massacring the Kurdish minority. I could keep going. How can the Prime Minister use the reputation of Quebec and Canada to trivialize that regime’s transgressions?

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Mona Fortier

Liberal
“Canada stands up for LGBTQ+ rights and against discrimination. Working with other countries does not mean we agree with them. Doing business and building ties with them gives us a chance to push for better human rights.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we firmly believe that every individual deserves to live with dignity, to feel safe, and to be free to be themselves. Canada will never turn a blind eye to discrimination, persecution or oppression based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Engagement does not imply approval. However, by diversifying our partnerships through trade, investment and economic co-operation, we are creating opportunities to strengthen high-level ties and advance human rights.

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Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe

Bloc Québécois
“Canada condemned violence in Sudan this morning, but tonight the Prime Minister is hosting a banquet for the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE arms the group committing that violence. Canada is ignoring human rights abuses, and the Prime Minister must raise this issue tonight.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, speaking of hypocrisy, this morning, Canada signed a joint statement condemning the genocide-like violence in Sudan that is being committed by the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. Who is the primary supplier of military equipment to the RSF? It is the United Arab Emirates, whose crown prince the Prime Minister of Canada is hosting tonight. This morning, Canada condemned the massacres, but tonight, it is hosting a banquet in honour of one of the people responsible. Once again, Canada is downplaying human rights abuses. Will the Prime Minister at least raise this issue at his event tonight?

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Mona Fortier

Liberal
“Everyone deserves to be safe and free. We are continuing to work and talk with the United Arab Emirates. The Prime Minister is meeting with them today to see how we can keep working together.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we firmly believe that everyone deserves to live with dignity, to feel safe and to be free to be themselves. We are continuing our efforts to work with the United Arab Emirates and we will continue those conversations. In fact, the Prime Minister will be meeting with the U.A.E. team today, and we will see how we can continue to work together.

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