Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to direct my questions and comments to Ambassador Rae again. I'd like to focus on foreign aid. I hope that's in order and that I won't be interrupted by Liberal members on the committee.
Ambassador Rae, I read your report, which the Government of Canada posted on its website. Your report, as special envoy of the Prime Minister, I thought was a very erudite and frank assessment. In fact, I've been quoting it in the House of Commons to raise awareness about the issue. I think you raised a very good point in that report by highlighting that declining or stagnant national income is no way to meet our foreign aid targets.
On a serious note, it's clear that no Canadian government over the last number of decades has met our foreign aid target, which is 0.7% of GNI. In fact, foreign aid has declined by some 10% compared to the previous government.
I have a political question for you, a serious political question. In light of the fact that no Canadian government, whether it was Conservative or Liberal, has met that target, practically speaking, what do you think the long-term target should be for the Government of Canada? Should it be to maintain levels at 0.27%? Should it be 0.3%? Should it be 0.5%?
Most people I talk to think that 0.7% isn't realistic, so I'd be interested to see what you think is a long-term target, let's say a 2030 target, that we should be aiming for. Second, how do we get there politically?