Mr. Speaker, this week Canadians are celebrating International Development Week.
For over 50 years Canada has provided assistance to the world's poorest countries and communities. In the early years our teachers, nurses and administrators provided much needed services. Today they are working side by side with their capable and dedicated counterparts from around the world in a spirit of true partnership for development.
Polls confirm that the Canadian public supports international development. The government has acted on their concerns with good reason: international development efforts have yielded considerable results.
In 1975, for instance, 40% of the world's population had access to drinking water, and today that figure is approximately 70%.
I invite all Canadians to show their commitment to international development during this International Development Week.