Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much. Afghanistan is a great example of where democracy and development go hand in hand. Clearly there are the specific examples of freedom and democracy through the $30 million in support for the elections and the work we're doing to improve the judiciary--work that the Global Peace and Security Fund is doing on that.

Foreign Affairs committee  Just for clarification, do you mean public education on issues of democracy, or basic education?

Foreign Affairs committee  It's extremely important, in terms of both curricula and civic education in schools, but also in terms of using media, particularly radios, to help educate populations, which in many cases have never voted before in their lives, as to what elections are all about. It is also important to educate the media about the role a responsible media plays during an election process.

Foreign Affairs committee  It expired at the end of 2006-07.

Foreign Affairs committee  The fund right now was extended until 2006. The decision of whether to do future extensions of the fund--

Foreign Affairs committee  Sure. First of all, the interconnection is between democratic governance development and environment. What is clear is that they are all so tightly interconnected. Depending on the country, you may wish to focus on one more than another. If you have a reasonably well-functioning state, you may be able to focus considerable efforts on the poverty reduction agenda.

Foreign Affairs committee  There were a number of programs in CIDA, not just on climate change but on environment more broadly. The fund itself is actually being assessed and reviewed in terms of that.

Foreign Affairs committee  It is, and that's a great example of where we see democratic governance as being absolutely fundamental to our programming in the country.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes. This was done based on the experience of the last five or so years in terms of what had been the Canadian international partners that had worked with CIDA on this. What we did in this specific request for proposals is it was publicly put out on the system and people were invited to submit bids.

Foreign Affairs committee  In fact, the diaspora communities play an important role. The Ukrainian elections are one. In terms of the whole issue around Haiti and the interim government, we actually had a couple of meetings with the diaspora communities as well. In Afghanistan the diaspora communities are playing an important role, but often actually within these organizations....

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, you're absolutely right, because this is an illustrative list; this isn't a complete list. In fact, in terms of programs we've been involved in, we've been very involved in the elections and freedom issues. We've been very involved in human rights, particularly the human rights of Haitians on the border with the Dominican Republic, and we do specific programming there.

Foreign Affairs committee  Virtually all of it. In fact, I believe that historically it's been 100%. I see no reason why that wouldn't be.

Foreign Affairs committee  The $375 million refers to 2005-06, so compared to 2007-08--

Foreign Affairs committee  The sectoral breakdown includes elements to do with conflict resolution, and so on, that don't fit into the democratic governance area but are traditionally put under the rubric of governance more broadly defined.

Foreign Affairs committee  I will ensure we get the precise numbers and provide an analysis of some of the activities done by other departments that fall under this rubric. If we take the Global Peace and Security Fund and its increasing role in security sector reform, justice, and rule of law in some fragile states, they are also going to have an important contribution to make.