So the Canadian government cut international assistance by $2.7 billion.
Yesterday, representatives from the United Nations Children's Fund spoke before the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. They told us that we couldn't do more with less. When people tell us that we can do more with less, that just isn't true. When we have less, we do less.
How do you explain the fact that the government is spending extraordinary amounts on defence while your department is cutting international assistance by $2.7 billion?
This was done under your department's authority. Yet all the non‑governmental organizations and groups involved in international assistance say that the current situation is appalling.
What would you say to them?