Mr. Speaker, I appreciate being recognized to speak in support of Motion No. 14, which calls upon the government to strengthen the accountability, effectiveness and mutual benefit of Canada's international development assistance.
I want to first thank the member for York South—Weston—Etobicoke for bringing forward this motion. I really appreciate the work he does in his community and the work he has done over the last 10 years in Parliament in his various ministerial roles, including as minister of international development. I am proud to call him a friend and have always reached out to him for guidance. Once again, through this motion, he is demonstrating his thoughtfulness on important issues that not only set Canada up for success, but also set our stature internationally.
This motion responds to new global realities that are transforming the development landscape and highlights how Canadian aid can promote economic resilience, both here and abroad.
The motion proposes three key measures. The first is implementing new policies to ensure that Canadian international development assistance integrates opportunities for reciprocal economic benefit here at home, including through the participation of Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises, innovators and workers.
The second is establishing a dedicated economic partnership window to support projects that leverage Canadian economic strengths, such as clean energy, agriculture, digital technology and education, and that align poverty reduction abroad with economic security at home.
The third is requiring the minister of international development to report to Parliament annually on the outcomes of Canadian participation in international development assistance projects, the measurable benefits for partner countries and the economic opportunities created for Canadians.
Our government strongly supports this motion, which proposes concrete measures to modernize our approach to international development assistance and strengthen Canada's collaboration with trusted partners around the world, so that our aid remains accountable, effective, and results-oriented.
We are in the early phases of refocusing Canada's international development assistance to better support and advance mutually beneficial economic partnerships in alignment with the spirit of the motion, while continuing to advance our core values of gender equality, human rights and environmental sustainability.
We recognize that a stable, equitable and prosperous world serves Canada's long-term national and strategic interest. The challenges facing developing countries today are complex and interconnected, from climate change, food insecurity and conflict to displacement, gender inequality and limited access to financing, opportunities and innovation.
To meet these challenges, we must mobilize all sources of financing, including domestic resources, official development assistance and private sector investment, to stimulate inclusive economic growth and build innovative partnerships around the world.
When we align development objectives with Canada's economic strengths, we amplify our impact on global poverty reduction. While the motion encourages the integration of reciprocal economic benefits into our international development assistance, I want to be clear that poverty reduction remains central to Canada's international development assistance efforts, in line with the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act.
Any economic partnerships supported through official development assistance would be grounded in tangible, measurable improvements to the well-being of communities in partner countries. The concept of an economic partnership window reflects an important idea: that our programming tools can both advance economic security and better leverage Canada's strengths at home and abroad.
Our government's aim is to make development partnerships more strategic, innovative and resilient, responding to partner countries' requests for stronger economic collaboration and investment. We are actively assessing the most effective mechanisms to achieve these objectives.
On the issue of reporting, Global Affairs Canada currently fulfills its obligations under the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act by publishing an annual report to Parliament. As we look to the future, we will continue to consider how best to communicate the economic benefits created by Canada's international development assistance.
There is an opportunity to strengthen the reporting of these benefits, both internationally and domestically, within our existing annual report to Parliament, thereby ensuring greater transparency and reinforcing confidence in Canada's international assistance efforts.
Supporting the motion would not mean stepping back from our long-standing international development commitments, including our support for poverty reduction, gender equality, human rights and environmental sustainability. These are core Canadian values. They will always provide a frame for Canada to engage internationally, whether it in our foreign policy, whether in our defence policy and, of course, in international assistance. Instead it would reflect an approach that recognizes the importance of strategic partnerships, economic inclusion, transparency and accountability, as fundamental to effective and responsible international assistance.
Our new government supports the motion as a signal of a broader shift, in Canada and among other donor countries, toward ensuring that international development assistance not only supports global poverty reduction but also creates economic benefits for our partners and for Canadians at home.
By aligning our values with our economic strengths, Canada can exercise leadership in creating inclusive and sustainable development partnerships that move the world forward while creating real economic opportunities for Canadians.
Let me conclude by reaffirming our government's unwavering commitment to international assistance that is accountable, effective and results-driven, advancing both Canada's global leadership and our national interests. It is our intention to support this motion.
Once again, I want to thank the member for York South—Weston—Etobicoke for the work he has done. I look forward to continuing to work with him and continuing to rely on his expertise in this area.