What if someone you trusted made you a promise and, 40 years later, it was still not being fulfilled?
Such is the case with our Canadian government. The poor worldwide are still waiting and watching as our government fails to deliver year after year.
In 1969-1970, an initiative led by our esteemed late prime minister Lester B. Pearson formulated a plan whereby global poverty would be eliminated if all wealthy countries contributed .7 per cent of their GDP (or present day GNI) to foreign aid and development.
Canada came close under Brain Mulroney, reaching .5 per cent. But under subsequent Liberal and Conservative regimes, we have fallen to a disappointing .3 per cent of our national production.
Some 24,000 kids under the age of five die every day, 1.6 million people succumb yearly to tuberculosis and 2.6 billion of our global citizens do not have a toilet.
Our government, which in the past has committed to reaching the .7 per cent target, needs to change direction and re-commit to achieving this laudable goal. If the political will to do so is not there, it is time for a regime change.
Dr. Robert Dickson
Calgary, Alta.
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