Canada boosts global food aid by $50 million

from the Toronto Star

Government hikes funds by 28 per cent after UN warns of hunger, poverty from surge in food prices

Richard Brennan

OTTAWA–Canada has responded to the worst global food crisis in 45 years with a $50 million increase in this year's aid funding.

Under pressure from the United Nations to do more, International Co-operation Minister Beverly Oda announced the increase yesterday, noting it brings Canada's total food aid to $230 million, up 28 per cent over last year.

"The rising cost of food has created a global crisis that is impacting the poorest and most vulnerable," said Oda. "Conditions are so perilous that some predict we run the risk of reversing past development progress. This is a challenge we must all meet as part of the global community."

She added that the Canadian International Development Agency is constantly monitoring the need for humanitarian food aid.

But even with the extra cash Canada falls far short of a federal commitment made 30 years ago to provide 0.7 per cent of its gross domestic product to foreign aid.

The government claims it has increased aid abroad. But the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development – which gives policy advice to member countries including Canada – says Canada's aid was off by 2.7 for 2006-07, "due to a fall in contributions to multilateral organizations as well as reduced debt relief."

The call for more aid money came from the UN World Food Program, which raised the fear of reducing food rations and the number of people who receive it. Donor relations director Terri Toyota said the WFP is halfway to its goal of $755 million in new funding to meet rising food and fuel costs.

"The wave of food price inflation is moving across the globe, leaving in its wake drastically increased levels of hunger and poverty, a so-called silent tsunami," she said. "And it's the biggest challenge our organization has faced in its 45-year history."

Toyota said the world's poor have "have no better friends than the government and people of Canada."

Canada's contribution announced yesterday includes $5 million to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, bringing Canada's contribution to $25 million this year. Another $10 million will go directly to Haiti through the WFP.

Oda also said Canada is joining other developed countries in untying its food aid, meaning funding won't be linked to buying grains and other foods from Canada, so aid groups can buy locally.

In a statement, Gerry Barr, president of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, applauded the boost in aid spending and the untying of food aid.