Mr. Speaker, as our Prime Minister made clear yesterday by announcing a contribution of $15 million for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, our government actively supports international development.
Small Canadian non-governmental organizations, better known as NGOs, have been anxiously waiting for many years for the government to give them an opportunity to play an important part in the development of civilian society in developing countries.
Could my hon. colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, tell the House how the department plans to build a new relationship with Canadian NGOs?