By Richard Rusdashama, Animator for Western Quebec and Eastern Ontario
October 17 was designated the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty by United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/47/196 on December 22, 1992.
UN member states are invited to observe this day by presenting and promoting concrete actions aimed at eradicating poverty. In keeping with this spirit, Canada has consistently joined other countries around the world in observing this day. In 2024, for example, the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement highlighted Canada’s various achievements in the fight against poverty, emphasizing, among other things, its Feminist International Assistance Policy and its endorsement of the Pact for the Future, which the UN General Assembly had adopted on September 22 that year.
A pact against poverty
The section of the Pact for the Future entitled Sustainable development and financing for development bears many similarities to the six action areas identified in Canada’s international aid policy. Sub-section 19 of the resolution under which the pact was adopted asserts eloquently, “We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.”
Mobilizing financing to achieve its goals is presented the key to the success of this pact, which Canada and other wealthy nations have overwhelmingly endorsed. Indeed, the word “financing” appears 36 times in the 64-page text of the pact.
At first glance, the picture seems clear. Canada and the world have a very good understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable countries, as well as their consequences. The fact that have agreed to a pact that not only proposes plans to address these challenges but also funding arrangements for those plans seems to confirm this.
And yet…
Against this rosy backdrop, we come up against a stark paradox. The richest countries are backtracking on their pact commitments very quickly. They are deciding to drastically cut the budgets they had pledged to allocate to address the challenges they themselves identified—and for which they had developed action plans.
The example of Canada is striking. Despite all of Canada’s commitments and contrary to Prime Minister McCarney’s campaign promise, the federal budget came as a rude shock. Funding for official development assistance was cut drastically, while spending on the military and fossil fuels was significantly increased.
This raises some pressing questions. Since Canada and other wealthy countries have put all these plans in place for a cause common to all humanity, have they suddenly forgotten the consequences of these budget cuts on the lives of millions of people around the world? Do they tell themselves that it is none of their business anyway? Out of sight… out of the budget?
No! And they know it very well. They know that these cuts have serious humanitarian consequences and that many will not survive them. They know that global warming, the destruction of biodiversity and soaring food prices will spare no one—rich or poor―in the Global South or the Global North. They know that displacement will reach uncontrollable levels as millions of desperate people flee to simply survive.
It is our duty to remind our government of this!
In Canada, our democracy gives us citizens a powerful tool. We have the ability to tell our elected officials that the path they are taking is not the one we want. Remaining respectful of laws, we can propose solutions that we, the citizens, deem appropriate.
In a democracy, every citizen’s voice certainly has a place. But when that voice comes from a group organized around a shared ideal, it is even more powerful! The more members this group has, the more impactful its voice becomes. It becomes a key stakeholder.
Do you want to strengthen this citizen voice? Join our Is Canada on Track for Justice? campaign! Join us in telling our elected officials that Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada members are here—in large numbers—speaking out against poverty and for peace and justice around the world.
Come remind the government of the commitments Canada has made. Come remind Canada that its Feminist International Aid Policy must be adequately funded to be effective, that it is capable of allocating more funds to these ideals, and that it should use its voice to convince its peers to follow suit.
Does civic action appeal to you? Join our movement to amplify the voice of justice!