Thank you.
My name is Jean-Luc Djigo. I am the KAIROS representative in Montreal. It is a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to briefly present to you, on behalf of KAIROS, the essential points that should be considered for the federal budget.
The following five points reflect the values in which we, as a coalition of churches, believe.
First, make a commitment in the 2008 budget to develop and implement a poverty reduction strategy in consultation with a broad range of citizens, men and women, particularly those living in poverty. That plan should define specific targets and a firm calendar and determine mechanisms for accountability to the Canadian public.
Second, develop a plan to increase the amount of foreign development aid to 0.7% of gross domestic product, GDP, by 2015, and thus rank poverty reduction number one among our foreign aid priorities.
Third, consider the introduction of a carbon tax on fossil fuels with rebates for low-income Canadians and residents of remote communities.
Fourth, implement the recommendations of the Senate report on specific claims, which includes creating, within two years, an independent body for land claim settlement, and adopting new guiding principles that recognize the claims.
Fifth, increase citizen deliberation and common ground building during this fall's consultations by organizing dialogues with various citizens groups across Canada.
We think the budget should contain principles that reflect our values, that is to say fairness, transparency, social responsibility, an adequate and prosperous economic framework for all and ecological sustainability. All these points have been detailed in the documents distributed to you.
In closing, I'll take the opportunity to ask a few questions. Has this consultation heard the voice of people living in poverty, that of Aboriginal people, and that of Canada's children? Have we heard the voice of people from the countries of the south who depend on and are waiting for our support?
These, briefly put, are a few points that KAIROS would like to submit for your consideration.
Thank you.