Poverty In Canada

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Canada has been involved in providing funding to developing nations to help solve poverty since the end of the Second World War. Canada’s role in attempting to solve poverty has been primarily through the federal government agency Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Unfortunately, although Canada is making strong contributions in its attempt to solve world poverty, it is not nearly as close to how much other developed countries have contributed. As a wealthy developed nation Canada needs to do more to be part of solving world hunger. ” Canada launched her development aid programme in 1950 with virtually no policy aim beyond a Iively anti-Communist instinct and an exhilarating vision of a free, multi-racial Commonwealth.”…show more content…
In 1960 a United Nations expert commission led by the then Prime Minister Lester Pearson set a target for developmental assistance of 0.7 per cent of countries gross national product to foreign aid. In 1970 the Canadian Parliament accepted this challenge as part of a moral duty. (The Foreign Aid Debate) At the Monterrey Financing for Development Conference in March 2002, world leaders pledged “to make concrete efforts towards the target of 0.7 per cent of their national income in international aid.” (Monterey Consensus, March 2002) In today’s dollars, that would amount to almost $200 billion each year”. (Davidson) Twenty two of the worlds wealthiest countries were helping to reach this goal including Canada. The goal of the United Nations was “to eradicate poverty, achieve a sustained economic growth and promote sustainable development as we advance to fully inclusive and equitable global economic system.” (Monterrey Consensus, March…show more content…
Notwithstanding the pledge made by Canada “foreign aid was frozen at $5.16 million in 2010, that translated into 0.34 percent of the countries gross national income.” (Davidson) This number leaves Canada falling far short of the 0.7 per cent target. Further cutbacks were announced in this years April federal budget for foreign aid which will clearly have an effect on how CIDA will continue to implement their programs or reach Canada’s commitment of contributing 0.7 per cent of its gross national product to foreign

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