Hi. My name is Jeremy Zhao. I'm a volunteer with Engineers Without Borders Canada.
In budget 2018, we ask that Canada commit to a timetable of predictable annual increases in its international assistance envelope that would bring Canada's development assistance to 0.31% of GNI within this government's first mandate. Canada's current level of development assistance is 0.26% of GNI, and it is the lowest in recent history. While development assistance globally has increased by 9% in the past year, according to the OECD, it is disappointing that Canada's own contributions have declined by 4%.
Increasing aid would help Canada achieve its sustainable development goals and increase economic growth. Forthcoming research from the Canadian International Development Platform suggests that countries receiving development assistance tend to import more Canadian goods than they would without aid.
We hope budget 2018 can correct this downward spending trend so that Canada fulfills its global commitments.
Thank you very much for your time.