GRAVELLE INTRODUCES RIDING PETITION IN SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AID GROUPS
OTTAWA – Nickel Belt NDP MP Claude Gravelle has voiced his support for a petition put forth by his constituents to increase Canada’s percentage of GDP that goes to international development and better fund the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (D&P).
In 2005, Parliament had passed a resolution to increase development assistance to 0.7% of GDP. As of 2012, the Canadian government provides less than half that amount, approximately 0.34%, one of the lowest percentages of donor countries. Worse, the Conservative government announced plans in its 2012 budget to cut the international assistance budget by 7.5% over the next three years. These draconian cuts even contradict an earlier Harper government decision in 2010 to freeze the international assistance envelope between 2011 and 2014.
“These federal cuts to much-needed, successful aid programs are not good for Canada or the countries that need our assistance,” said Mr. Gravelle. “I am happy people in Nickel Belt are speaking out. We need to help these organizations with the resources they need to do their very important work.”
The Nickel Belt petition calls on Parliament to:
- Demonstrate international responsibility by re-committing Canada to contribute 0.7% of GDP to Official Development Assistance;
- Prioritize responsive funding to those NGOs that Canadians support and which have seen their funding cut by CIDA;
- In the spirit of global solidarity, provide in full the funding of $49.2 million requested by D&P over the next five years.
The Conservative government has cut funding to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) despite an impressive record of aid effectiveness on the part of organizations like D&P and Global South. These unfortunate cuts will lead to almost $35 million less in government monies for D&P over the next five years and will reduce or cut financial support to a total of 80 Global South partner groups.
