Thank you very much for your question, Mr. Saganash.
We are indeed facing an extremely complex situation not only in Iraq, but also in the entire region, and that further complicates matters. The situation in Syria is extremely difficult. We can't see the end of the tunnel or how the situation could be resolved. We see no end to the humanitarian crisis.
That crisis gives the Islamic State an opportunity to interfere in Iraq. It has become a destabilising force that is capitalizing on the weaknesses of Iraq's political process.
The consequences we saw in 2014 are clear. The humanitarian consequences are absolutely tragic in a country that also produces oil. You may think that the country would have the means to meet the needs of its population.
This isn't just an Iraqi problem, as an economic crisis has also been caused by the drop in oil prices and major liquidity issues. Iraq is having huge problems in terms of management and governance. That country has been in transition since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. That's the context in which we are operating. There are also community tensions that probably existed during the regime and simply came to light after its collapse.
Iraq is a very complex country, as it is a mosaic of very old religious and ethnic communities, and tensions have always existed there. Iraq is currently lacking political stability and a political framework. The tensions will persist until a political framework has been implemented. The Islamic State is obviously exploiting this situation to further its own growth. That's why the response is complex. A humanitarian response is self-evident. We have to continue to support Iraq through resources, but also through assistance in terms of governance and the political process.
Kurdistan's case is unique in the sense that the region receives 80% of its budget from Baghdad through budget transfers. Owing to disputes, discussions, disagreements or political wrangling over the sale of oil, those transfers have been suspended. An agreement was recently negotiated, but it has not yet been implemented. That's why we have had to take over when Kurdish authorities requested our assistance in areas such as the construction of temples and distribution of essential goods. Kurdish authorities have officially approached United Nations and asked for assistance because they did not have the means to handle the situation. Baghdad has kept out of the Kurdistan crisis, and this remains a contentious issue. That's why I think we can work with a number of vectors for which Canada can receive support by participating in various political, security and humanitarian actions. I think it's very important for Canada to maintain its commitment to humanitarian action.