Address by the Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of Minister Dion to the Organization of American States General Assembly

Speech

June 14, 2016 – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with the Government of Canada’s communications policy.

I am pleased to be here today on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Stéphane Dion.

To begin, please let me express to John Kerry and the U.S. delegation the Government of Canada’s sympathy and solidarity regarding the terrible crime in Orlando. These abhorrent killings will increase the global community’s determination to defeat terrorism.

The meeting we are holding today here in Santo Domingo is a very important one. The Organization of American States, the OAS, is an essential institution as the oldest regional organization in the world and as a forum that has allowed our member states to re-establish peace, promote solidarity and enhance their collaboration.

OAS membership gives each of our nations an opportunity to work with all the partners in our hemisphere to support the priorities that are important to the international community as a whole. In fact, right now, our hemisphere is facing challenges that are occurring across the globe: democracy, human rights, climate change and sustainable development. How we deal with our troubles at home can serve as an inspiration to the rest of the world.

Let’s begin with democracy.

Our hemisphere’s fundamental principle is democracy. If we are to strengthen democracy here, we have to foster it across the globe.

The peace process in Colombia, for instance, will likely serve as a model for the world with regard to the positive impact of a resolute, long-term consolidation of peace. For Colombia’s good, but also for what that country’s reconciliation represents to the world, our prime minister, Justin Trudeau, and our government intend to support the Colombians in building the inclusive, transparent and fair institutions that are needed to bring about a sustainable, equitable and prosperous peace.

The crisis in Venezuela is another challenge that must be met. Each and every state in the Americas must be able to provide for the essential needs of its population. From this point of view, the situation in Venezuela is deeply worrying to its hemispheric neighbours, including Canada. Escalating levels of violence combined with poverty have served to undermine national security. A scarcity of basic goods, including food and medical supplies, has reached an alarming level. Inflation is now the highest in the world. Canada reiterates its call on all parties to act in good faith and in the best interests of the Venezuelan people.

The June 1 declaration by the [OAS] Permanent Council offering assistance to Venezuela is a good first step that reflects a collective commitment to supporting the Venezuelan people to ensure that their democratic institutions and processes are fully respected and that national reconciliation can be achieved through peaceful means.

The declaration called for upholding the legitimate role of the freely elected national assembly and adhering to constitutional procedures while respecting national sovereignty.

Venezuela’s constitution has a provision for a recall referendum. The national electoral council has established rules with respect to the number of signatures required to validate the exercise. At least 1.2 million Venezuelans have expressed their desire to proceed with a referendum. We hope the Government of Venezuela honours the express will of the people and respects the spirit of the constitution.

The Inter-American Democratic Charter is one of this organization’s most significant achievements. It must be used better.
The charter captures norms and standards on which all agree and provides solid guidance for member states in challenging or crisis situations. It should be used to frame appropriate positions on any member state facing challenges in this complex hemisphere. Member states should not hesitate to draw on the Charter and be guided by its principles.

Another country in our hemisphere that is grappling with a democratic crisis is Haiti. If there is any democracy the Government of Canada would like to see succeed, it is Haiti’s. Canada has a vibrant Haitian community, in Montréal especially, that is worried about the clear dysfunction within the political class of its country of origin.

Canada has been a presence in Haiti for decades and will remain a steadfast ally of the Haitian people. The Government of Canada wants to see economic, humanitarian and democratic progress, but these will never be possible if effective political leadership is lacking.

The Haitians have to be able to count on elected leaders who are accountable to the public. The electoral process has become bogged down in recent months. It is in everyone’s best interests to ensure that this does not happen again. As Haiti’s partner, the Government of Canada is calling on Haitian political players to do everything possible to stick to an electoral calendar so that inclusive, fair and democratic elections can be held.

The Canadian government also welcomes the U.S. reopening to Cuba. As one of the few countries never to have cut diplomatic ties with Cuba, even at the worst points of the Cold War, Canada supports further efforts to reintegrate Cuba into hemispheric relations, which can only have positive consequences for the advancement of democratic and human rights for the Cuban people.

An essential element of democracy is human rights.

The promotion of human rights must be among the top priorities of the OAS. But let’s admit that no country is perfect. Everywhere, respect for universal human rights is a work in progress.

Human rights are both a foreign and domestic policy priority for Canada. At home, the Government of Canada has committed to renewing its relationship with the country’s Indigenous peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership.

As was highlighted during a recent hearing at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a national public inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls has been launched.

The Government of Canada believes a genuine relationship with Indigenous peoples means partnership on the world stage. Canada is committed to working with its partners in the OAS to advance Indigenous issues across the Americas. As this occurs, the views of Indigenous women and men must be taken into consideration.

Another key element for human rights promotion is gender equity. Still today, persistent inequalities keep women and girls from fully engaging in, contributing to and benefiting from development progress.

Within the OAS, through its engagement at the Inter-American Commission of Women and the Inter-American Children’s Institute, Canada is supporting hemispheric efforts to foster the equal participation of women and girls as agents of change in economic, social and political processes while promoting the rights and health of children and youth.

To succeed in the promotion of human rights through the hemisphere, a tool that the OAS must make a good use of is the inter-American human rights system. The long-term financial sustainability of the inter-American human rights institutions must be strengthened to protect their autonomy and effectiveness.

Allow me now to address the issue of sustainable development and climate change.

The Government of Canada is supporting hemispheric efforts toward achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Canada is proud to join with its fellow OAS member states in establishing the Inter-American Program for Sustainable Development implementation plan of the OAS.

The Americas became the first region to develop a plan of action to achieve the 2030 Agenda. Together, members can set an example and move the world forward.

Regarding climate change, the hemisphere should move to ratify the Paris Agreement in the coming months. Canada’s government is ready to work with its regional neighbours in implementing respective national plans and meeting COP21 [climate-change conference in Paris] commitments.

Water will be one of the defining issues of this century. Canada has particular expertise in the management of water resources and is eager to cooperate within the OAS in addressing water issues, including ecological, security, transboundary, social, development and health dimensions.

As an engaged bilateral and multilateral partner, the Government of Canada will keep working to promote democracy, human rights, security and sustainable development for the good of all citizens. And to insist that strong domestic and regional institutions are vital for sustainable development—both in the Americas and in the world.

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