Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for bringing this question to the attention of the minister and members of the House.
The hon. member asked what help we are extending to Dr. Tectonides. I am very happy to announce that Dr. Tectonides has returned to safety and to his family in Canada.
Throughout this crisis Dr. Tectonides' family was kept fully informed of all developments in Sierra Leone and of those concerning his whereabouts. On various occasions Dr. Tectonides' family expressed sincere appreciation for the fact that the Government of Canada and the international organization Médecins sans frontières were working together to secure the release and the return to safety of the doctor and the French logistician who had been abducted with him.
At present Dr. Tectonides is looking forward to his next assignment with the same organization, Médecins sans frontières.
On the issue of Canadian assistance to Sierra Leone, as the secretary of state mentioned in the House, we have provided $600,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross as an initial grant to the ICRC humanitarian assistance aiming at alleviating the suffering of the local population.
During his current visit to Sierra Leone in the context of the Commonwealth ministerial action group, the secretary of state, the hon. David Kilgour, will be in a better position to evaluate the humanitarian and other assistance needs of the Sierra Leone government.