Good morning, honourable members.
My name is Jessica Adams, and I'm a Canadian citizen who believes in equality, peace and prosperity for all. I am fortunate enough to have been raised in Canada, with access to health care, a good education and a safe community to grow up in. However, I know that this is not the reality for other children around the world.
I've seen the impact of Canada's investments abroad. Far fewer people are dying around the world, and communities are thriving thanks to the development efforts. However, there is still a lot to be done. The needs are great. International assistance has a reputation for bringing about charity, but it's more than that. It's about strengthening the global community and creating sustainable opportunities.
I am encouraged by the recent increases to international assistance, but to effectively deliver on Canada's feminist international assistance policy, more must be done. Therefore, I urge you to recommend annual long-term increases to international assistance in your report to Parliament on budget 2019.
Thank you for your time.