Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that there must be major investments, even to allow us to catch up as far as national defence is concerned.
That said, however, we find it excessive that there is suddenly a 25% budget hike in this area, while international aid is being neglected, particularly since 1995. It even started a bit earlier than that, under the Conservatives. If we have responsibilities as far as international conflicts are concerned, we also have them as far as international aid is concerned.
Let us remind our colleague that it is possible that terrorism may be fought by increasing security and defence budgets, but it will primarily be fought by reducing as far as possible the breeding ground for terrorism, that is world poverty.
I believe Canada has a role to play in international aid, one it is not playing at the present time. The country cannot pat itself on the back about its G-8 membership while at the same time, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs put it, leaving for the restaurant restroom when the bill comes to the table.