Susan Whelan

[International Aid, October 8th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I have said it before in this House, and the hon. member is well aware, that CIDA's primary mandate is to reduce poverty through sustainable development. China has over 240 million people who are classified as being the world's poorest.

Our programming in China involves projects that help reduce poverty, that ensure sustainable development and that improve human rights. It is very important that we deal with 20% of all the world's poor people, and the hon. member should be well aware of that fact.

[International Cooperation, September 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as Stephen Lewis and, hopefully, the hon. member well knows, Canada has already pledged $150 million to the global fund for fighting HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. On top of that, we have contributed $50 million to the Canada fund for Africa for the vaccine initiative for HIV and AIDS.

Canada has stepped forward and Canada will continue to step up to the plate to help fight HIV-AIDS, particularly in Africa.

[International Aid, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. member would want the House to know that the press release that he sent out reflects only a small portion of the contributions that CIDA makes to a number of organizations. For example, we give 10 times the figure that is in the hon. member's press release to the international Red Cross organization. We would like to have all the facts on the table when we are talking about Canada's foreign aid program.

[International Aid, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, obviously the hon. member has not read CIDA's policy statement on strengthening aid effectiveness. The document shows how Canada is concentrating its aid efforts and has taken the aid program in a new direction.

Our partners are essential, as the hon. member must know. In delivering Canada's aid they go through a very scrupulous process to receive money and to be partners, and we work with all of them to ensure we affect and help the poor.

[International Cooperation, June 6th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can be proud of their contributions to the global fund, essential in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

We must use all of the tools that are at our disposal to fight the profound challenges that we face with HIV and AIDS. That is why, through CIDA, we have committed to quadrupling our funding to HIV and AIDS between 2000 and 2005 for a total of $270 million. That is why we have contributed $50 million through the Kananaskis fund to find a vaccine for HIV and AIDS. That is why we continue to support HIV-AIDS awareness programs and education programs and treat those who are living with HIV and AIDS in many countries. We are working to provide hope for many people suffering from HIV and AIDS.

[International Aid, June 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's foreign aid policy is targeted toward those countries that have poor people, people who are living on less than $1 a day, working to feed 800 million people who go hungry every day, recognizing that 1.2 billion people live on less than $1 a day.

We have introduced a new policy where we are focusing our efforts. We have introduced a number of countries where we are concentrating our efforts in a number of sectors.

The hon. member knows full well that we are working with poor people for sustainable development to reduce poverty, and that is the mandate of what we do.

[International Aid, June 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has delivered on its commitments. The $500 million Canada fund for Africa is focusing on African priorities like health and education, trade and investment, and peace and security. Canada has also committed an additional $6 billion over the next five years to deal specifically with Africa.

We have committed to double our international assistance by the year 2010, at least half of which will go to Africa. Our relationship with Africa is strong because we are committed. We delivered and we will continue to do so.

[International Aid, June 3rd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada contributed significantly to the creation of the global fund to fight HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

We have pledged a total of $150 million from the year 2001 to 2004. We are ranked seventh in the donors of those that are contributing to the global fund. Last year we announced $50 million for HIV-AIDS vaccine through the Canada-Africa fund. We are quadrupling our HIV-AIDS commitment over the next three years within Canada. We are doing our part.

[International Aid, May 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, first let me say how deeply saddened I was to hear about the tragic consequences of the earthquake. On behalf of all Canadians I would like to extend our sympathies to the families of the victims.

Last Friday I announced that Canada would make an immediate contribution of $200,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to help alleviate the immediate suffering and to help provide emergency relief to the victims of this devastating consequence.

[International Aid, May 2nd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is a recognized leader in immunization and vitamin A programs and we are deeply committed to protecting children's health.

Yesterday I announced an additional $110 million to be devoted to immunizing children against tuberculosis, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B and yellow fever over the next five years. In the past this program has averted 40 million cases of measles and 500,000 deaths. To ensure that the vitamin A program can reach an additional 200 million children, $33.6 million will go to UNICEF. With yesterday's announcement we will be able to continue to see some of the results that we have seen in the past.