The church's Moderator has sharply criticized the federal government's refusal to increase its foreign aid to the United Nations standard of 0.7 per cent of national GDP. "It's regrettable that when we're so privileged in Canada, we cannot even meet a minimum goal that was set many years ago," said Moderator Richard Fee. "One has to question priorities and how those priorities are being set."
Prime Minister Paul Martin announced his new international policy statement in April, which allows for yearly increases in aid of eight per cent. Aid groups say the commitment is a start, but is not enough to reach the 0.7 per cent benchmark by 2015 – the target set by the international community. Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have already made the mark.
Canada's current foreign aid commitment sits at 0.23 per cent — well behind the world average of 0.41. When he was minister of finance, Martin himself argued for the 0.7 per cent goal in 1984, when Canada's foreign aid spending was about double of what it is today. The prime minister said Canada simply cannot afford to meet the goal he endorsed 11 years ago.
Canada is also changing its aid funding policy. It will focus on 25 of the world's most needy countries, most of which are in Africa, in order to increase the impact of aid dollars, which are currently spread around 146.
Jim Cornelius, executive director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, of which the Presbyterian church is a strong supporter, said he and other NGOs provided input to the government while the policy was being developed. And although the final statement has positive aspects – such as bringing increased coherence to address international issues — what NGOs really wanted to see was absent. "Two years ago, a commitment was made by the Canadian International Development Agency to triple its support for agriculture and rural development, since most of the world's poor live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods," said Cornelius. "That commitment disappeared in this policy."
The oversight disappoints Sam Vander Ende, CFGB's representative in Africa. Based in Ethiopia – where food security is always a concern — he is disheartened by the government's continual failure to adequately address agricultural needs. "Agriculture is the heart and soul of most developing countries' economies. It is foundational to the well-being of some 60 million people. How could Canada leave this out?" he asked.
"In the past 10 to 15 years, influence has waned considerably. Increasing Canada's foreign aid would be an excellent opportunity to show leadership," said Vander Ende.
Not only does the policy fail to commit enough aid to countries in need, Cornelius said it also fails to provide a stronger link between government aid and civil society, both in Canada and developing countries. He said it is imperative to engage Canadians in aid work, helping them realize they are part of a larger world. "We're not just Canadians. We have a responsibility as global citizens to help improve things like poverty, health care and the environment."
Fee, who is also executive director of Presbyterian World Service & Development, said the church's programs are safe for the time being, because its aid programs are handled through individual contracts. "We're not affected this round, but remain concerned about the government's future vision."
"The government has a responsibility to look out for people who are least able to look out for themselves," said Ron Wallace, associate secretary of the church's International Ministries department.
