Canadian groups disappointed about foreign-aid cuts

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/04/2023 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Budgets are moral documents. They reveal priorities and values, and as a society, they are the primary way that we care for one another, especially for the vulnerable. That is why the church takes them so seriously.”

That’s what American Jesuit priest Father Travis Russell said in 2021 about the budget being proposed by the U.S. government.

In that, he was echoing what the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in 2017 when they argued that “a central moral measure of any budget proposal is how it affects ‘the least of these.’ The needs of those who are hungry and homeless, vulnerable and at risk, without work or in poverty should come first … a just framework for the federal budget cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor and vulnerable persons.”

If that’s the case — if budgets are moral documents — then people of faith should be concerned about the one just passed by the governing federal Liberals that cut foreign aid by $1.3 billion. That is a 15 per cent reduction in spending to help feed, clothe, shelter and educate people in the developing world.

For Canadian aid groups, the cut is disappointing at a time of enormous global need.

“The decision by the government to cut foreign aid comes amidst a world facing multiple crises around climate change, hunger, conflict and an erosion of human rights and democratic values,” said Cooperation Canada, the umbrella group for 95 international relief and development groups.

“At a time when the world is calling on Canada to step up and deliver on the vision and leadership it promised, this government chose to step down,” added Julia Anderson of CanWaCH, a coalition of organizations working on women’s and children’s health and rights.

Added Elise Legault of the ONE Campaign: “We made a promise to the world to increase international assistance every year, and instead there is a 15 per cent cut in the middle of an unprecedented food crisis and countries crumbling under the effects of climate change. This isn’t the leadership that Canadians or the world expects.”

Of course, budgets are complex things. There are many different needs, priorities, expectations and constituencies to satisfy. And it’s not like Canada isn’t doing anything to help people in the developing world; it will still spend $6.8 billion on foreign aid, up from the $4.6 billion it spent in 2015-16.

Nor is it the case that the budget doesn’t contain things people of faith can feel good about, like efforts to combat climate change, to support newcomers and refugees, and to support organizations that serve marginalized women in Canada, among other things. But it still should sting a bit to see less money from a wealthy nation like Canada going to help poor people around the world.

After all, all major religions all have some version of what Christians call the “Golden Rule” — to treat others the way they would like to be treated. Or, to put it another way, if we were poor, hungry, thirsty or in need of help due to war, climate change or natural disasters, we would hope other countries would come to our aid, just like we should want to help them.

The truth is that foreign aid is the easiest thing for governments to cut; poor people in other countries don’t vote. That was a point made by Carl Hetu, executive director of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, as he reflected on the cut. “I just know that once again cutting international aid is the least politically costly for a government,” he said.

While people in poor countries don’t vote, people of faith who care about Canada’s role in the world do; they can be their voice in Ottawa. If the cut to foreign aid concerns you, now’s the time to contact your Member of Parliament. And when the next election rolls around, you can remind those running for office about your desire for Canada to keep the needs of the world’s poor in mind.

You could also signal your concern by donating to groups like Mennonite Central Committee, Canadian Foodgrains Bank or Canadian Lutheran World Relief, all headquartered in Winnipeg, or other aid organizations. Many aid groups could see their government funding cut due to the reduction in aid spending.

Or, if you already donate to an aid organization, you could consider giving more. A 15 per cent increase this year sounds about right!

faith@freepress.mb.ca

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