Mr. Speaker, this is International Development Week, an opportunity to remind the government of the devastating impact of ongoing Liberal cuts in foreign aid.
At the same time I salute the dedicated work of those individuals and NGOs, groups like the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, OXFAM, Results Canada, UNICEF and Canadian churches and labour, in fighting global poverty.
I urge the government to significantly increase our foreign aid in the upcoming budget, especially that aimed at meeting basic human needs including education and that directed at the poorest countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
New Democrats strongly support the Jubilee 2000 campaign urging the government to cancel the crushing $2.2 billion debt owed to Canada by the world's poorest countries. In a week when all parties have voiced concern about the rights of children, let us not forget that 32,000 children die every day of preventable disease and hunger. Canada must do much more to respond to this global crisis and set a clear timetable to meet the UN target of .7%—