My name is Jane Ouillette. I'm a volunteer with Engineers Without Borders Canada.
In budget 2018 we ask that Canada commit to a timetable of predictable annual increases to the international assistance envelope that would bring Canada's development assistance to 0.31% of GNI within this government's mandate.
Canada's current level of development assistance is 0.26% of GNI and is at the lowest in recent history. While development assistance globally has increased 9% in the past year, according to the OECD, it is disappointed that Canada's own contributions have declined by 4%.
Increasing aid will help Canada achieve 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 that budget 2018 can correct this downward spending trend so that Canada fulfills its global commitment.
Thank you for your time.