Mr. Chair, I would like to pursue the member's very serious emphasis on aid and international assistance efforts in the region of Darfur, since this is a matter that is at least something we can handle, deal with and work on if in fact there is a serious shortfall in the Canadian contribution to the provision of food and other assistance in the region.
I asked the minister earlier whether or not Canada was missing the mark and had dropped its aid from $20 million to $5 million, thereby contributing to the reduced caloric intake of each of the individuals in the region who are seriously undernourished and malnourished. He said he did not believe that was the case.
I am wondering if the member from the Liberal Party has any ideas about whether or not there has been a reduction in funds from the time that he was in government. What is his understanding of the present levels of aid for people in the region? What other ideas does he have for, as I understand it, the 3.5 million people currently in need of humanitarian assistance in Darfur at the present time?