Foreign Affairs Committee on Nov. 1st, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

We go now to MP McPherson.

You have a minute and a half. You get the last questions.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

A minute and a half is insufficient for the questions that we probably still have, but Mr. Hagerman, I would give that to you.

Could you comment a little bit more on your topic of tying the price of food, indexing the price of food? As well, could you comment on the need for predictable, sustained funding and what that could look like, considering that we need longer-term funding than we currently have?

[Paul Hagerman]

Thank you.

As I was saying earlier, Canada committed to a certain amount of global food assistance in 2011, I think, or 2012. There was an international treaty on food assistance. The last time it was renegotiated was around 2012. Canada committed to a certain level. We have never increased our commitment since then.

The other two biggest donors are the U.S. and the European Union. They have both increased substantially in that time. Canada has not. As I said, Canada's actual amount fluctuates from year to year. It tends to be quite generous, but there's nothing to prevent a future government from cutting back to that minimum level. That concerns us. We would like to see Canada's commitment tied to the price of food, or perhaps a one-time increase to say that we're going to bump it up in accordance with what other leading countries have done.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much.

Thanks, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

At this point, allow me to thank Mr. Hagerman, Ms. Conlon and Mr. Dionne. We're very grateful for your insights and your expertise, and we thank you for having made yourselves available as generously as you did.

The meeting is adjourned.