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International Assistance is an Election Issue

GRAN is seeking a commitment from all federal political parties to increased levels of international assistance in their electoral platforms for Election 2019.

This issue is of vital importance to the well-being of older women/grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa in their task of caring for their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren. Increased funding for international assistance is fundamental to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals in education, health, ending violence against women, and supporting the human rights and full participation of older women in sub-Saharan Africa. International assistance has been a GRAN advocacy issue since our beginning.


Canada’s record to date:

In 1969, at the urging of the Canadian Prime Minister, the United Nations adopted a resolution calling for member countries to contribute a minimum of 0.7% of their Gross National Income (GNI) to Official Development Assistance (ODA). Since the 1970’s this measure has been widely used as an indicator of international aid flow.

Although Canada is a relatively rich country, we currently provide only 0.28% of our GNI to ODA, nearing the lowest level in our country’s history, below the average of other contributing countries and the lowest in actual dollars contributed by any G7 country. We want Canada to pay its fair share.


GRAN Action:

GRAN has written to each of the federal parties asking for an increased commitment to international assistance.  We are also seeking commitments from the parties on our other key issues:  Fighting AIDS, TB and Malaria; Mining Justice; and Education.

In the lead-up to the election, GRAN is encouraging all its members to talk to candidates in ridings across the country, whether at the door or at all candidates’ meetings, to let politicians know that this is a voting issue.