2013 federal budget leaves Canada without an independent agency for international development

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      Canada is now a country without an independent agency for international development.

      That news came on page 241 of the Harper government’s 433-page budget for 2013 in a chapter titled “Supporting Families and Communities.”

      “The Government will amalgamate the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and CIDA [Canadian International Development Agency],” the pertinent section reads. “This enhanced alignment of our foreign, development, trade and commercial policies and programs will allow the Government to have greater policy coherence on priority issues and will result in greater overall impact of our efforts.”

      The change received no mention in Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty’s speech presenting the budget.

      Dawn Black, NDP MLA for New Westminster, told the Straight she heard the news “with a heavy heart.”

      “You can’t help but get the distinct impression that this is a government that really does not believe in international aid,” she said. “They’re talking about international development work, saying they will do it through trade. Well, there are places in the world that are in desperate need of aid…in terms of maternal health, in terms of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and you’re not going to solve those issues through trade investments.”

      Black has involved herserf in international development since 2007, when she started working with the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign, a grassroots effort that supports African orphans and their guardians.

      She said that she was “surprised” by the decision to fold CIDA into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but noted that the Harper government has long made clear its enthusiasm for using aid as a tool of foreign policy.

      The Straight first reported in May 2009 that the Harper administration was giving increasing weight to trade considerations when deciding where to direct CIDA funds for development.

      Since then, CIDA’s annual budget as repeatedly been cut, and money once spent on programs in Africa, the world’s poorest continent, has been redirected to countries in Latin America.

      In December 2012, the current head of CIDA, International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino, told the Globe and Mail that he felt foreign aid should be used to promote the country’s economic interests.

      “We [CIDA] are a part of Canadian foreign policy,” Fantino said. “We have a duty and a responsibility to ensure that Canadian interests are promoted.”

      CIDA was stripped of its independence one day after the United Kingdom signed into law an obligation to spend 0.7 percent of its gross national income on international aid.

      The target of 0.7 percent was set at the United Nations in in 1970. Canada was one of the countries to adopt that goal; it has never come close to meeting it. In 2012, Canada spent just 0.29 percent of GNI on development abroad.

      Despite successive budget cuts, the Harper government has always maintained that CIDA continues to provide international aid to those who need it the most.

      According to the 2013 budget, “The Government will continue to provide essential aid to those most in need in developing countries in key areas like maternal, newborn and child health, education, public sector governance and justice reform, and agriculture.”

      Black argued that it is those exact areas that will inevitably feel the impact of Canada’s 2013 budget.

      “I think that’s what will suffer and I feel very sad about it,” she said. “I think it is another indication by this government of a change in Canada’s place in the world. And I think it is a sad change.”

      CIDA was established under Liberal leadership in 1968.

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      Comments

      6 Comments

      Vineyard

      Mar 22, 2013 at 10:34am

      Raise your hand, whoever is surprised! This government is a goddamn shame.

      Richard L. Provencher

      Mar 22, 2013 at 10:55am

      I am pleased to see our government take direct control over the multi millions given and continues for countries and projects in need. For too long the robbers of funds supposedly intended for the poor ended up in black market hands. This new thrust with Canadian muscle behind it will be able to more properly monitor these funds.

      DavidH

      Mar 22, 2013 at 10:58am

      These days, most (perhaps all) corporations regard "giving" as a pure marketing strategy. Unless it generates tangible dollar value to the shareholders, it has no value whatsoever.

      The Corporation of Canada is no different. Long gone are the days when "business organizations" like the Government of Canada would help because (a) It was the right thing to do, and (b) Because they could.

      Now, the only important question is: "What's in it for us?" True Christians must be so proud of their political leaders.

      Not unlike the individuals who give to charities and non-profits because the giving generates a tax benefit ...

      DavidH

      Mar 22, 2013 at 1:56pm

      @ Richard L. Provencher: You're so right. When a homeless person begs me for spare change, the first thing I demand is a proper accounting of his or her spending plans (in writing). Every poor person should have an "Economic Action Plan" dammit.

      Too often, these street-level "robbers of funds" (the ones with grimy, black hands) use my nickels and dimes to buy things which I find financially and morally reprehensible, like fast food or (gasp) a can of beer.

      How much of my donation is going towards important things like their personal debt reduction or retirement savings?? Precious little, I'll bet!

      Poor people deserve our help, as long as they've filed the proper forms and can demonstrate sound fiscal management.

      Jack Klein

      Mar 22, 2013 at 9:00pm

      Yea leave those third world countries in the stone age!!!

      PJ

      Mar 25, 2013 at 7:48am

      How many more chrity COMPANIES are there in third world countries,I see UNICEF with their new Land rovers and Lexus 4x4 s,now that is really putting the charity money to good use,and you see in all news papers,tv,telus pges,etc,adds to give generously to this or that,if you gave a fiver to all these charities you would be in deabt.If you look at what the Canadian Gov. still gives to the poor countries around the world you would know this independant agency was costing more mony to run then was given.Read charity donations Can. gov. before you throw blame.