Mr. Speaker, on February 21 I asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs if Canada would support the 20:20 vision proposal and action plan to be considered at the World Summit for Social Development which will take place in Copenhagen later this month.
The goal of the summit is to attack global instability due to third world poverty and social injustice. The challenge is enormous. At this time 1.3 billion people in the world live in debilitating poverty; 550 million people end each day hungry; 1.5 billion people lack safe water and sanitation; and 800 million living in developing countries and 335 million in industrial countries are unemployed or underemployed.
As I said at that time these conditions threaten world stability and peace. It is in the interest of all countries to take action against them. The 20:20 vision proposal and action plan must be supported by Canada and all countries at the summit.
Will the minister or the parliamentary secretary state clearly that Canada will support these proposals and that the overall goals of the summit will be supported as well? I would also like to know that Canada would give the work of this summit and its goals the highest priority.