Mr. Speaker, continuing overseas development programs when the Liberal government has gutted the existing programs is laughable so I have no suggestions along those lines, although I am sure it was suggestions about eliminating things that led to the paltry budget measures of the government for ODA.
Let me say that I want to give credit where it is due. It is welcome that the government has finally seen fit to commit to some increases, but I am very worried. When I look in the budget for a line item that makes it absolutely clear those dollars have been committed, they are not there. In this budget no dollar amount has been allocated for increased overseas development aid.
When we asked finance officials about this they said the dollars would come out of the surplus, if there was any. I do not call that an ironclad commitment to remove the shame and embarrassment of the government's paltry commitment to overseas development aid. I do not think it gives much comfort to many Canadians who have been fighting for an improved allocation of international development monetary assistance.