Canadians are questioning the benefit of the $6.6 billion in foreign aid Ottawa sends to other countries annually.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, a Department of Foreign Affairs report titled Canadians’ Views On International Assistance Tracking Study shows that most people are worried that their taxpayer dollars are funding corrupt regimes abroad.
“Many Canadians think international aid is ineffective and that corporations, the United Nations and international non-government organizations can do more to reduce poverty than the Canadian government,” wrote department officials.
The department polled Canadians on how they viewed foreign aid spending and 58% of those polled felt “a lot of international aid from Canada ends up in the pockets of corrupt politicians in the developing world and that most international aid does not get to the intended recipients.”
“Results also reveal only one in four Canadians, 26%, believes government spending on international aid is effective,” researchers observed. “Almost twice as many, 42%, think government spending is ineffective.”
A total of 3,056 across Canada were included in the study which was conducted by Ekos Research Associates for $73,709.
When asked whether Ottawa should increase or decrease foreign aid spending, 23% of those polled said that it should be reduced.
“To effectively bridge the gap between Canadians’ experiences and issues happening thousands of kilometres away, the department requires a solid understanding of how the Canadian public views international assistance,” the report stated.
At the height of the pandemic, the Trudeau Liberals announced a whopping $485 million in additional foreign aid to go towards delivering vaccines to developing nations.
Prior to that, the Liberals also used the pandemic to announce $109.5 million in new foreign aid spending on “women’s reproductive health” and other initiatives.
“Canada’s investment in these programs is in line with its feminist international assistance approach, since this global crisis has the potential to exacerbate inequalities and reverse development gains,” wrote Global Affairs Canada.
