Ms. Bugailiskis, you referred to the recent situation of human rights in Venezuela. We know that the issue of human rights in that country is not a recent problem. We know that in a not so distant past, there have been very authoritarian regimes in Venezuela.
Based on your knowledge of the situation, did Canada, at the time, react in response to abuses of power in Venezuela? I see that a human rights prize has been awarded for the first time. The Embassy has a human rights prize for Venezuela. How do you explain that this kind of initiative was not taken at the time when there certainly were very serious abuses of human rights in Venezuela?
My second question is on another matter. Do you believe that there is a relationship between Canada's attitude, its new found sensitivity to the issue of human rights in Venezuela and the general evolution of diplomatic relations and economic relations between Venezuela and Canada? Do you believe that Canadian interests in that country feel threatened by the current regime? How do you assess the situation of Canadian interests in Venezuela in your Department?