Friday, March 22, 2013

CIDA’s demise is worrisome


Prime Minister Stephen Harper is killing the Canadian International Development Agency by folding it into the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

It’s a callous and greedy move.

When CIDA was formed, the goal was to share seven-tenths of one per cent of Canada’s wealth to help the poorest people in the poorest nations.

Canada never came close to reaching that goal.

But thousands of Canadians, through personal donations of money, time and talents have far surpassed that goal of seven-tenths of one per cent.

The government has been encouraging them with tax breaks and with support for many international relief and development projects.

Most of these are carried out by NGOs – non-government organizations – and Christians are prominent among them, charities such as the Mennonite Central Committee, the Roman Catholic’s Justice and Peace, Lutheran World Relief, World Renew, World Accord, World Vision, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

But now the Harper government talks about forming new partnerships with mining companies, finance companies, etc.

These are organizations whose main goal is garnering profits. It is totally different from the goal of the NGOs, which is to help needy people.

Harper is making a huge mistake. His approach will not work to help needy people. Whenever a choice arises between profit and aid, his new partners will trash their programs and budgets for compassion and help for needy people.

And so will Harper trash government budgets for the same goals. He is really only continuing the trend he began when he took office.

I am distressed by what’s happening. I used to be proud of Canada’s generosity, but this makes me ashamed.