We urge the government to ensure that providing assistance, consistent with the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act, continues tocontribute to poverty reduction; takes into consideration and engages the perspectives of the poor; and is in alignment with international human rights standards. We understand that new aid legislation is being prepared to ensure these goals continue to be met and we urge you to ensure that the new department is provided with clear guidance in separating our aid priorities of helping the poor from the other responsibilities of foreign affairs and international trade.
We urge your Government to honour the pledge to meet Canada’s commitment to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) target contribution of 0.7 percent of our national income to international development. We ask that you restore your earlier commitment to increase aid each year by 8% to obtain the 0.7% goal. We are concerned that Canada’s ranking as a donor country has been declining over the last decade.
We look forward to receiving your response to our concerns.
Sincerely,
Ken Noma, President
Lillian Nakamura Maguire, Vice-President
Chair, Human Rights Committee
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Hélène Laverdière, M.P. Lauriere-Sainte-Marie
Paul Dewar, M.P. Ottawa Centre
Mark Eyking, M.P. Sydney-Victoria
Dominic LeBlanc, M.P. Beauséjour