House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2011, with 55% of the vote.
Government Programs June 15th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is not correct. In fact, this government is proud that we are ensuring that our international assistance is actually going toward helping those who are living in poverty. We will ensure that we get value for our international assistance dollars, which means more health for our aid dollars, more education for our aid dollars, more medicine for our aid dollars and more mothers and children whose lives will be saved because of Canada's G8.
International Co-operation June 15th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, as we have made clear, the ongoing practices of CIDA's ongoing programming will not change.
However, we are very proud that at our G8 we will be championing saving the lives of mothers and children and, in fact, as Melinda Gates said, “Canada is proposing a bold but achievable plan that can save countless lives”.
The international community is supporting us, as are our G8 colleagues, so we can save the lives of mothers and children.
G8 Summit June 14th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the member is quite right that the Gates Foundation has supported Canada's initiative to save the lives of mothers and children. In fact, Melinda Gates said, “Canada is proposing a bold but achievable plan that can save countless lives – and I hope all G8 members will lend their strong support”. That is exactly what is happening.
Secretary of State Clinton said, “We commend the Canadian government for focusing attention”.
The Prime Minister of the U.K. said, “We have agreed to tackling the scandal of—
International Co-operation June 14th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, this government, since its 2006 election, has met its commitments to the international world. We have retained our commitment to doubling our international assistance. We have met our commitment to doubling our aid to Africa. We have not only met but surpassed our commitment for food aid and food assistance.
We have a record on which we will stand, unlike the previous government, which had 13 years to fulfill commitments to those in poverty.
International Co-operation June 14th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, as we have clearly articulated, the Prime Minister and Canada at its G8 will be focusing on saving the lives of mothers and children. We have support for that initiative from many.
What did Melinda Gates say? She said that the number of dying is “atrocious” and she added:
The truth is, we can prevent most of these deaths -- and at a stunningly low cost -- if we take action now.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that 2010 is “a year when the world decided that no woman should die giving life and no children should die when we know how to save them”.
G8 and G20 Summits June 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that I just attended the Women Deliver Conference in Washington. At the conference, Melinda Gates said “we finally have the world’s attention” on maternal health issues. She said that it was not that the world did not know how to save the lives of mothers and newborns, it was we had not tried hard enough until now. She says that the world is changing because there is a government that is listening and acting, even when others were previously deaf and dormant. Canada is proposing a bold, achievable platform—
International Aid June 7th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, we are in fact increasing our support to those organizations that work directly in those countries.
We support the Francophonie in the fine work they do in African-Francophone countries. We support the human rights of women and girls. Last week I announced support for UNIFEM, for human rights of women and girls.
We are in fact a leading country in many of the issues, but we can make a difference by supporting those organizations that actually do work in countries where the need is.
International Aid June 7th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, this government wants to ensure that public funds are going forward to help reduce poverty and help those people living in developing countries. There is no entitlement.
This government wants to ensure good value for its international assistance. We want results. We want to make a difference to those people, those families and those communities because it is our responsibility to ensure that.
International Co-operation June 7th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, as has been very clear, Canada wants to ensure that its G8 will save the lives of mothers and children. We know what interventions will be effective. In fact, these interventions have been endorsed by the University of Waterloo, John Hopkins University, the micronutrients Initiative. We know what the tools are.
In fact, it also been endorsed by the private sector and the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation. These are experts, these are people, these are organizations seeing real results in saving the lives of mothers and children.
International Co-operation June 4th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear. This government wants to ensure that its international assistance is actually helping those it is intended to help. This is about making good, responsible use of taxpayer dollars for the best benefit of those living in poverty.
This government has been acknowledged for fulfilling its commitment, unlike the previous government that made a commitment to the starving children of the world and did not fulfill that commitment after signing the food aid convention four years out of seven.