Statement made on 22 October 2009 by Senator Maria Chaput
Hon. Maria Chaput:
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, and concerns the Canadian International Development Agency.
According to former Bill C-293, CIDA must report annually to Parliament and account for its progress on three key criteria: poverty reduction, the perspectives of the poor and human rights.
The report has just been tabled and the minister, the Honourable Bev Oda, has stated that she is satisfied. I am aware of the federal government's investment of $783 million. However, I have a serious concern about the disbursement of this money. The report tabled does not provide information about Canada's programs, their outcomes or where they are delivered.
I am told that CIDA has withdrawn its support for a number of very poor African countries. It would seem that most of these are also francophone countries.
Could you obtain a list of the countries and places that CIDA has supported in the past and a list of those it now supports? Would it also be possible to obtain from Minister Oda CIDA's criteria for deciding to withdraw its support from this large number of African countries?
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