international development. Yet with your government's most recent cuts, Canada's foreign aid will drop to only 0.25 percent of GNI by 2015, running contrary to Canada's international commitments. This is unacceptable. Canada's NGOs are among the best in the word when it comes to delivering international development assistance. Your government's cuts to CIDA's budget will have a disproportionate impact on these organizations, which have decades of experience working successfully and effectively with partners in developing countries. Minister, foreign assistance is often a crucial factor in improving social services and government operations in developing countries, including education and health services. Cuts to CIDA will disproportionately affect the poorest of the poor through the elimination of essential programs and services. A May 2012 poll on Canadian Engagement on Global Poverty Issues found that the majority of Canadians believe that the federal government must play a lead role in addressing global poverty. Canadians are generous people. We can afford to increase our assistance, and we have the moral obligation to do our part to eradicate global poverty. As Minister for International Cooperation, you have the responsibility for an important agency whose mission is to help eradicate poverty in the developing world. This mission is seriously impeded by the irresponsible and short-sighted cuts to development funding. I. urge you to listen to the experts in the field who have spent decades achieving real success on behalf of Canadians. I stand with Canada's NGOs in calling for your government to reverse the cuts now. Sincerely,
Helene Laverdiere MP, Laurier - Ste-Marie Official Opposition Critic for International Cooperation