August 8, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“Canada continues to condemn the repugnant killing of innocent civilians, including women and children, from Christian, Yazidi and other religious and minority communities in northern Iraq by the terror group ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria].
“Canada supports all efforts, including United States supply drops and airstrikes, to protect civilians from ISIS terrorists. We continue to stand with those who support the Iraqi people, including the Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers who are bravely fighting this brutal terrorism.
“Canadian officials, including Canada’s ambassador to Iraq, who is based in Jordan, will be working to determine how best to support the Iraqi people, given the current security and humanitarian challenges. We have received no request for military assistance and will continue to monitor the situation in concert with our allies.
“Canada will continue to support the Iraqi government’s fight against ISIS. We call on Iraqi leaders to come together to govern for all Iraqis, regardless of religion, and for the sake of the security, democracy and prosperity of the Iraqi people.”
ISIS, formerly known as Al Qaida in Iraq, has been listed as a terrorist group in Canada under the Criminal Code since August of 2012.
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