Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I thank each of you for being here this morning. This is a very serious discussion that Canadians need to hear.
Minister Baird, I'd like to address my questions to you regarding the humanitarian situation that you saw when you were in Iraq last week.
Each of you has referenced the enormous humanitarian crisis that is developing, and each of you talked about the victims you have seen. Canada has been engaged over the long haul on this. In fact, since the beginning of 2014, we have spent more than $28 million on development assistance, humanitarian assistance, in Iraq. We have, since 2009, resettled more than 18,000 refugees from Iraq. We've committed to another 5,000 coming out of Turkey, most of them Iraqis. We have been engaged in this situation for a long time.
Mr. Minister, could you talk about how important it is that Canada participate? While you were there, what did you observe in regard to the humanitarian assistance we are providing?