Good morning, everyone.
We will begin our meeting.
This is the 45th meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Today we'll continue our study of Canada's response to the violence, religious persecution, and dislocation caused by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL.
Our witnesses today, we have the pleasure of having Ms. Jane Pearce, who is country director for the United Nations World Food Programme. Beside her is Mr. Martin Fischer, director of policy for World Vision Canada, and Mr. Bart Witteveen, director of humanitarian and emergency affairs at World Vision Canada. Lastly, appearing remotely via your screen from Erbil, Iraq, is Mr. Emmanuel Gignac, coordinator for northern Iraq from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Without any further ado we'll begin. Each of the witnesses will have up to 10 minutes to speak and then we'll proceed with questions.
Ms. Pearce, if you will begin the proceedings....