Millennium Promise to Global Poor Under Threat, Canada Urged to Lead by Example
A new report on Canada’s record in meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals says Canada is falling dangerously short of meeting its commitments to the world’s poorest people.
In “Canadian Millennium Goals Report 2010”, MAKE POVERTY HISTORY, the country’s largest coalition of civil society organizations, calls on Canada to exercise leadership to bring the country and the other G8 nations back on track to honour their pledge to cut world poverty in half by 2015.
“Canada holds a special place on the world stage”, says MAKE POVERTY HISTORY national coordinator Dennis Howlett. “Not only are we hosting the G8 and G20 summits in Canada this month, but, as our Prime Minister rightly reminds us, we are also the G8 nation which best survived the economic crisis. That puts us in an excellent position to lead by example.”
Canada has made positive contributions on four of the 8 Goals including hunger reduction, the promotion of gender equality, saving children’s lives and it has contributed its fair share to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
But Canada is falling behind on half of its Millennium Promises, including universal primary education, maternal health, environmental sustainability and spending on foreign aid.
The report warns that the government’s recent decision to freeze aid spending at 2010 levels could put progress on all 8 goals at risk.
“If this freeze is maintained,” says Gerry Barr, Chair of Make Poverty History and CEO of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, (CCIC), “it is hard to see how we can have the much needed initiative on Maternal and Child Health this government has promised, without cutting back on other goals. It’s critical to maintain an integrated approach as each goal rests on the success of the other.”
The report shows that while progress overall to increase income, alleviate hunger, and improve access to education and medical aid was making modest gains, the financial meltdown, climate change havoc and a surge in food prices have all contributed to a perfect storm of setbacks. MAKE POVERTY HISTORY and its G8/G20 Coalition Campaign AT THE TABLE are urging Prime Minister Harper support a global Financial Transaction Tax, popularly known as The Robin Hood Tax. The tiny tax of .05% would raise billions in revenue to support both domestic social needs and create a global fund to aid development and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
In advance of the Sept 20-22 UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, MAKE POVERTY HISTORY will be mobilizing supporters across Canada to take part in the global STAND UP days of action, Sep 17-19, in support of the MDG’s.
In “Canadian Millennium Goals Report 2010”, MAKE POVERTY HISTORY, the country’s largest coalition of civil society organizations, calls on Canada to exercise leadership to bring the country and the other G8 nations back on track to honour their pledge to cut world poverty in half by 2015.
“Canada holds a special place on the world stage”, says MAKE POVERTY HISTORY national coordinator Dennis Howlett. “Not only are we hosting the G8 and G20 summits in Canada this month, but, as our Prime Minister rightly reminds us, we are also the G8 nation which best survived the economic crisis. That puts us in an excellent position to lead by example.”
Canada has made positive contributions on four of the 8 Goals including hunger reduction, the promotion of gender equality, saving children’s lives and it has contributed its fair share to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
But Canada is falling behind on half of its Millennium Promises, including universal primary education, maternal health, environmental sustainability and spending on foreign aid.
The report warns that the government’s recent decision to freeze aid spending at 2010 levels could put progress on all 8 goals at risk.
“If this freeze is maintained,” says Gerry Barr, Chair of Make Poverty History and CEO of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, (CCIC), “it is hard to see how we can have the much needed initiative on Maternal and Child Health this government has promised, without cutting back on other goals. It’s critical to maintain an integrated approach as each goal rests on the success of the other.”
The report shows that while progress overall to increase income, alleviate hunger, and improve access to education and medical aid was making modest gains, the financial meltdown, climate change havoc and a surge in food prices have all contributed to a perfect storm of setbacks. MAKE POVERTY HISTORY and its G8/G20 Coalition Campaign AT THE TABLE are urging Prime Minister Harper support a global Financial Transaction Tax, popularly known as The Robin Hood Tax. The tiny tax of .05% would raise billions in revenue to support both domestic social needs and create a global fund to aid development and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
In advance of the Sept 20-22 UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, MAKE POVERTY HISTORY will be mobilizing supporters across Canada to take part in the global STAND UP days of action, Sep 17-19, in support of the MDG’s.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| MDG Report Press Release | 32.76 KB |
| MDG Report Press Release in French | 92.39 KB |
