Canada will contribute up to $8.3 million to Iraqi authorities for defence programs and non-lethal equipment in the fight against the Islamic State, Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson announced Thursday at an anti-ISIS coalition meeting in Quebec City.
鈥淐anada and our coalition partners are making a tangible difference in the fight against ISIS, while providing humanitarian aid to those who need it the most,鈥 the minister said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development said in a news release that $3.2 million will be used to improve humanitarian aid in Syria and $1 million would go towards strengthening border security to stop the flow of foreign ISIS recruits. Another $2 million will go towards helping Iraqi authorities in their fight against the terrorist group.
The rest of the money will be used to help curb funding to ISIS and to help prevent the group鈥檚 expansion into Lebanon, the release said.
Officials from 20 countries involved in the fight against the Islamic State gathered in Quebec City on Thursday. For the second time since June, the officials discussed behind closed doors how the fight against the terrorist organization can be improved.
The conference included retired U.S. general John Allen, who was appointed by President Barack Obama to co-ordinate international effort against ISIS and Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister Ibrahim al-Jafaari. Thursday's meeting, held at the Château Frontenac, also included representatives from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Germany.
Canada joined the global campaign against ISIS in August 2014, pledging up to six CF-18 fighter aircraft and 69 military personnel to train Iraqi authorities.
Since January 2014, DFAIT said Canada has contributed more than $800 million to the fight against ISIS but as the terrorist group鈥檚 threat continues to spread, Nicholson said additional measures had to be taken.
鈥淲e will not stand idly by while ISIS and its affiliates continue their murderous rampage in an attempt to wreak havoc across the region, spawn splinter cells from North Africa to South Asia, and prey on youngsters in the West,鈥 Nicholson said.
In March, Parliament passed a motion renewing extending Canada's temporary mission to fight ISIS by a year. The motion also expanded Canada鈥檚 role in the fight to include airstrikes against members of the terrorist group in Syria.