Thank you, Mr. Minister, Mr. Hirst, and Mr. Edwards, for appearing here today.
Canada's re-engagement in the Americas certainly is a positive step. It's being very well received by almost all countries of the region. It certainly is a direct contrast to years past, where Canada has been seen as though it has been disengaging from the region.
Particularly now, with the evolving geopolitical landscape of the region, it even becomes a strategic imperative. Economically, the area is being viewed by other world powers too, whether it's the European Union or the two Chinas or other Asian countries, so there's a reason to participate. China has a tax-free port on St. Lucia, which is indicative of their interests throughout the area.
One of the countries in the region, though, where certainly Canada makes one of its preeminent efforts to help, is Haiti. Haiti is a very big priority in the region, of course, not just for humanitarian reasons but also as a necessity, and politically and economically as an imperative, as a sign of Canada's whole-of-government engagement throughout the region, to participate not just politically and economically in the region but also in a humanitarian way. It's a kind of symbol for that.
Mr. Minister, I'm wondering if you could tell us what steps are being taken with the efforts to help Haiti evolve politically and stability-wise.