Foreign Affairs committee  I think I'd better be careful how I answer this question. Yes, sir, there is a government in south Sudan, and indeed they have representative offices around the world as well, already. They are quite active in the international community. In some respects, their collaboration with the Government of Sudan is quite well advanced.

Foreign Affairs committee  That's a difficult question, Mr. Chairman. I think we remain very hopeful that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is the best way forward, and that includes the referendum. I think we're also very realistic that, whatever the outcome of the referendum, there will be enormous challenges that the international community will need to respond to.

Foreign Affairs committee  I don't think we would be in a position to comment on a decision that was taken by CIDA. I'd certainly be happy to pass that question on and see if we can get you a little more clarification.

Foreign Affairs committee  We certainly work very closely on a whole range of policy issues with CIDA, the Department of National Defence, the RCMP, and Public Safety. This is very much a whole-of-government approach to Sudan, so we have very good collaboration. I don't think it would be proper for me to comment on a CIDA funding decision, but I'd certainly be happy to pass the question on.

Foreign Affairs committee  That's a complex question, but let me try to give you some of the answers from our perspective. Perhaps I'll ask my colleagues to join in as well. When I say that, post-referendum, if the south chooses to secede, there would not be significant new powers, what I'm really saying is there is a great deal of autonomy already.

Foreign Affairs committee  First of all, our objective is to impress on the south Sudan government the need to proceed with the referendum. As I think I mentioned before, I think it's quite important that the international community speak with one voice on that score--

Foreign Affairs committee  --and that we continue to press them to meet their obligations in that respect. That said, we recognize that there are challenges. While I understand that it's important to recognize what is, in fact, happening on the ground, I think that perhaps for me to speculate about delay of a referendum is not necessarily helpful in terms of keeping our focus on the objective.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think we always try to look at all the options and consider what the best response might be.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Chairman, and thanks to the member for, I think, some important questions. First of all, I'll touch on the border, then I think my colleague would like to add to that. These borders are porous, both between north and south Sudan and with the neighbours as well. This is a reality in much of Africa, I would say.

Foreign Affairs committee  And if I may add, Mr. Chairman, in addition, we have made a significant contribution to the UNDP basket fund of approximately $7.1 million in preparation for the referendum.

Foreign Affairs committee  Well, if I may, Mr. Chairman, I think we've indicated the amounts that we've contributed specifically to activities around the referendum. Of course, there is a whole range of support that we're providing that I think contributes to stability around the referendum, whether it's support for policing or indeed some of the support for issues around citizenship or constitutional issues.

Foreign Affairs committee  It's very difficult to kind of put a figure on it.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes.

Foreign Affairs committee  This is one of the issues that is under negotiation, and it will, of course, be a very sensitive issue.

Foreign Affairs committee  It was both, I believe.