Good afternoon. Thank you very much for the opportunity to be here today.
My name is Hailey Froese, and I am here today representing Engineers Without Borders Canada. EWB is an NGO that invests in people and ventures to create a thriving and sustainable world and address the root causes of poverty and inequality. We have a community of 40 university and professional chapters, and 2,500 active members.
I am speaking to you today because the Government of Canada has committed to restoring and renewing international assistance to refocus on the poorest and most vulnerable people, particularly women and girls. Canada has already taken steps to actively re-engage on the world stage. These announcements are welcome. However, Canada's recent levels of development lag in comparison with our G7 counterparts and impair our ability to implement the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, also known as the SDGs.