Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (2nd L-R), his Chief of Staff Garry Keller, France Ambassador to Canada Philippe Zeller, Mali Ambassador to Canada Traore Ami Diallo, Ivory Coast Ambassador to Canada Goran Kouame (not pictured) discuss the conflict in Mali during a meeting in Baird's office in Ottawa January 16, 2013. REUTERS/Patrick Doyle France keeps up Mali air strikes Canada to send C-17 transport aircraft to Mali Mali Islamists counter-attack, threaten France Mali Islamists counter-attack, threaten France France bombs Mali rebels

OTTAWA — As French troops launched their first ground assault on al-Qaida-linked fighters in Mali, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird met with the envoys of Mali, France and Côte D'Ivoire in Ottawa.

Baird billed Wednesday's meeting as "an exchange of views" on the humanitarian and security situation in the West African nation.

The Conservative government has chosen to take a limited role in the French-led mission.