Development and Peace has worked for 45 years in alleviating poverty by supporting projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East and by raising the Canadian public’s awareness about the situation in the countries of the Global South. Development and Peace adheres to the best development practices and has the support of thousands of members both here in Canada and around the globe.
Embassy magazine recently reported that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has decided to fund less than one-third of Development and Peace‘s $49.2-million, five-year request (Why did CIDA cut Development and Peace’s funding?) .
The Harper government ushered in a steady ideological shift from development aid to the global south in favour of development aid to new trade partners in the global south.
Other important organizations such as KAIROS (CIDA cuts Kairos funding), Canadian Council for International Coorperation and the Mennonite Central Committee have seen similar funding cuts in favour of programming which promotes the interests of mining corporations and private investment. It is an inexplicable and indefensible decision that the Harper Conservative government has made to tie development assistance to the same economic policies which exacerbate poverty and transgress aid development principle of do no harm.
The abrupt reduction of funding for Development and Peace projects will endanger a great many people in the Global South.
Take a moment to write your MP here.