Only four percent of Canadians are aware Canada still sends foreign aid to China, according to a Department of Foreign Affairs survey.
The federal government sent millions in aid last year, including money for local Chinese projects on “empowerment” and “environmental justice.”
“The goal of the department is to increase the awareness of Canadian international development issues,” researchers wrote in a report Connecting With Canadians: Quantitative Research On International Development. Data showed few Canadians were aware of foreign aid spending, reported Blacklock’s Reporter.
“The immediate need is to find out the best ways to connect with Canadians,” said the report, adding “current messaging does not seem to work.” Findings were based on questionnaires with 1,200 people nationwide. The department paid Narrative Research of Halifax $47,968 to conduct the survey.
Asked, “What if anything have you read, heard or seen recently on Canada’s international development efforts?” 72 percent replied, “Nothing.” Only 19 percent said they “strongly support” foreign aid.
Asked, “When thinking about Canada helping people in developing countries, how does it make you feel?” 35 percent replied, “it feels good.” 13 percent replied, “We need to look after Canadians.” Five percent said, “It depends on the country getting aid.”
Federal agencies paid out a total of $6.5 billion in foreign aid worldwide last year according to a Statistical Report On International Assistance. A total of $14.2 million went to China.
Cabinet, in a separate Inquiry of Ministry, tabled in the Commons a detailed portion of Chinese aid, totaling $941,140 in grants awarded through a Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. “The Fund provides modest funding for small scale but high impact projects,” said the Inquiry.
Spending included:
- $37,654 to “foster dialogue on the challenges of young female offenders” in China;
- $31,791 on “empowerment” to “help low-income single mothers and girls grow up happily”;
- $30,801 on “enhancing environmental justice and ecological restoration”;
- $18,668 to “advocate equal reproductive rights for non-married women and lesbians”;
- $1,248 for “increasing understanding” of sanitation workers.
Opposition MPs have called for the suspension of all foreign aid to China.
“I don’t believe Canadian taxpayers should be sending any money to China,” then-Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer told reporters on April 17, 2020. “We’re talking about a Communist dictatorial government that abuses human rights, quashes freedoms, violates rights of its citizens, and has a very aggressive foreign policy all throughout the region.”
“Even before this pandemic there were clear signs China is headed in a direction that is not in alignment with Canadian values when it comes to foreign policy,” added Scheer. “Add in the fact they’re holding two Canadian citizens hostage” – consultants Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor – “and that they are blocking exports of Canadian products.”
“We’ve been calling on this government to stand up for itself, stand up for Canadians, stop being bullied and pushed around on the world stage especially by China,” he concluded.
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