Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Minister, my thanks to you and your team for what you do. I also thank you for your commitment and your leadership on the international stage.
My first question is about human rights.
Minister, you had the chance to speak in the House on the recent tensions in Delhi, India. I'd like you to take the opportunity to frame for the committee your thoughts on the importance of human rights generally, and the perception that perhaps human rights are a trade-off against diplomacy. Much like the fact that we treat the economy and the environment as going together, we also need to treat human rights advocacy and diplomacy as a pair, as going together.
I'd like to commend our government for keeping the door open in difficult circumstances with countries like Iran, Russia and China. Could you comment a bit on the importance of human rights advocacy and how you see it in the overall fabric of your mandate?