The Proof is in the Pudding

I am pleased to see Canada's robust involvement in relief efforts in Haiti although I was less than please to see that the first images we saw were of Canadian sailors marching in formation armed to the teeth. It all looked a bit too much like an American styled, might first, aid later approach for me.

All in all however it is good to see us step up to the plate.

However, as cynical as it sounds, I really believe Stephen Harper is riding the Haiti relief wave for all it is worth. With Parliament prorogued instead having of real discussion in Parliament about Canada's role in relief efforts he can grab all the glory himself without pesky questions from those bad opposition guys.

Never being one to miss a good photo-op he was front and centre at the gathering of foreign ministers from the so-called Friends of Haiti group in Montreal despite the fact that countries were meant to be represented by their foreign ministers, not heads of state.

Our Prime Minister has pledged a good deal of money to help rebuild the earthquake ravaged country making some wonder where this money is going to come from, and if the pledges can be depended on in the long term. The Harper government has a habit of announcing feel good projects two or three times then quietly canceling the programs on a busy Friday afternoon when no one is paying attention.

Harper is not alone in making feel good announcements then falling short in support for foreign aid programs. Successive Liberal and Conservative governments have failed to fulfill our commitment to allocating 0.7% of our Gross National Income to Official Development Assistance, in the form of international or foreign aid.

Over 30 years ago Canada signed an agreement to allocate 0.7% of its Gross National Income to international or foreign aid. At 0.35%, Canada is well below this average. During the last election, Harper promised to increase Canada's aid levels to reach 0.42%. The Prime Minister has yet to deliver on this promise. In 1995, Canada ranked 6th in the world in foreign aid donations as a percentage of GDI. Today Canada ranks 11th.

So, all these media releases might work to make the PM look good but, I wonder, will we deliver in the long term or should we expect yet another quiet Friday afternoon announcement? The proof will be in the pudding.