Mr. Speaker, I listened as much as possible to what the hon. member across the way has had to say. He made much reference to international matters. As you know, I was Minister of International Cooperation, and I must say that it is not for nothing that the government says the following on page 16 of the budget speech:
Canada has committed to double our international assistance budget by 2010–11.
The next sentence reads:
Today we are taking an important step toward this goal by increasing this assistance by $248 million for 2005-06.
So, starting next year, $248 million will be invested.
Two paragraphs later on the same page, there is again reference to our international commitment, but this time in connection with peacekeeping. For these remarks I am wearing a different hat, that of president of the Interparliamentary Forum of the Americas. We are all aware that Haiti is the most troubled country in the Americas and one that is so much in need of our assistance. The budget speech says:
This budget provides $300 million for ongoing operations in Afghanistan and for Canadian participation in a United Nations’ multinational force in Haiti.
Does the hon. member not support these measures, and does he feel, as he seems to have just implied, that they are inconsequential and unimportant?