Mr. Speaker, I have a comment and then a fairly quick question.
One point is on the saleability of foreign assistance and why it is necessary. The member struck on a very important point. It is becoming increasingly difficult to convince people that we should be spending increasing amounts of money on foreign assistance. Yet, for some of the reasons the member mentioned, it is still important.
Could the member comment in general terms on the advisability of increasing spending on primary education in the third world as part of our aid package as opposed to university education?
One report I read mentioned that basic education in the third world decreases the number of children in a family from an average of four and a half or five to three or three and a half. The reason is that a basic education allows a person to get a job, to understand basic birth control methods, to expand their horizons in business and so on.
As opposed to a very costly university education that we support around the world, does the member think we should emphasize or spend more of our money on the basic education aspect?