Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I have two comments to make. First of all, it is not up to me to criticize the response to Katrina. The American authorities have debated the issue at length, and it is up to them to judge. The Red Cross is a neutral organization which steers clear of any involvement in religious, political, ethnic or other debates. We maintain absolute neutrality and seek out access to victims wherever they may be. That is fundamental to us.
However, in the best of cases, even when we are well prepared, even when we are prescient, the first hours are always chaotic. Indeed, evacuations involve traffic jams and people who cannot move on their own needing assistance. It is complex, and the first hours are critical in order for things to run smoothly.
That is why I say that all possible resources need to be made available, including knowledgeable people who have experience. We believe that the Red Cross fulfils that role and that we have proven that on many occasions in Canada, in all provinces, and specifically in Quebec.
That thing said, we are not here to engage in a debate on areas of jurisdiction. It is not within the mandate of the Red Cross. We do however understand that countries need to manage their affairs based on certain areas of jurisdiction, and we respect that.
We would like to remind the committee of one thing. When there are people suffering, when things go wrong or off the rails, victims come first. We must ensure that all levels of government work together and have a common purpose. We hope that is reflected within the spirit of the Bill.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.