Foreign Affairs committee  We have a number of excellent universities in Canada. We should take advantage of the graduates of all of them. Let me smuggle in a comment to say that the time I spent in New York in the mission of Canada to the UN left me with a deep impression of the quality and commitment of our foreign service.

Foreign Affairs committee  The answer is, yes, I think we need to give resources to foreign affairs in order to meet its important mission. I've seen, over my time in government and since I left government, a steady reduction in the investment in global affairs. It's as though we can afford to cut it because no one will notice, or it won't make any difference.

Foreign Affairs committee  The trial chamber of the International Criminal Court has ruled that the ICC does have jurisdiction to investigate alleged war crimes in the West Bank and in Palestine. Canada can support the ICC in that financially. We can second people to assist them with person power. The way to make the point to the Government of Canada is through Global Affairs.

Foreign Affairs committee  I think soft power has always been one of Canada's great strengths. You earn credibility through investing in defence and doing your share in terms of international defence efforts. Monsieur Saint-Jacques referred to the Arctic as a place where we need to spend more on defence, and I agree with that completely.

Foreign Affairs committee  It was Lester Pearson who suggested 50 years ago that countries ought to invest 0.7% of their GDP in international development assistance. We have never come close to that. Countries like the U.K. and Norway are in excess of that. We have been reducing our international development assistance over time, and I think we should increase it.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'm reluctant to second-guess any government on the timing of calling for a ceasefire. The enormous complexity of the issues is quite daunting, and I don't envy those who have to make that decision. That having been said, I was delighted to see that yesterday we formally called for a ceasefire.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for your question. Mr. Chair, the department's openness to the views of others is important. I'm thinking of the consultation processes. A few years ago, the Department of Foreign Affairs devoted three days annually, in January or February, to receiving representatives from NGOs, universities, as well as experts on subjects related to the department.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. I believe there is. First of all, with the Americans, it depends very much on what happens next November. As has been pointed out, we don't know what's going to turn up in the White House a year from now, and some of the prospects are quite frightening. As we like to say, the Americans aren't always right, but they're always right there, and we have to manage that.

Foreign Affairs committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and honourable members. Thank you for inviting me to appear before the committee today. The mandate of this committee is crucial, as it assesses Global Affairs Canada's ability to fulfil its important functions and achieve its essential objectives. There is no shortage of challenges.

Foreign Affairs committee  I probably spoke too quickly. I just said that Global Affairs Canada's responsibility is to maintain a coherent foreign policy, while coordinating the trade and international development portfolios. In that context, let me identify three subjects that I respectfully suggest merit the committee's attention.