CPC launch aid offensive...

Ted Mezies, MP
CPC critic for International Cooperation

Today, Conservative International Co-Operation critic Ted Menzies announced the CPC plan to provide meaningful aid to the disaster-stricken regions of South East Asia.

The CPC approach proposes a five-year plan to provide immediate, medium and long-term aid and reconstruction assistance and criticizes the Liberals for offering a visionless approach to the problem and for dragging their heels behind Canadian public opinion.

"The Conservative Party is ready to support long-term rebuilding in South and Southeast Asia," says Menzies. "The Canadian government must identify proven and innovative development projects that will make the region stronger than before this crisis hit."

In the absence of leadership from the Prime Minister, TeamHarper have outlined a series of actions to which the government should commit.

This is a government-in-waiting move.

Instead of trying to score cheap political points by criticizing the PM's failure to cut short his holiday, the party have exposed an even more glaring failure; the Liberals have no plan to make life better in the long-term for thousands of affected individuals in South Asia.

This plan shows that when it comes to foreign aid, the CPC don't believe leadership is flying frantically around the world for photo-ops; it's about making a more responsive system and working to do the planning to help thousands in need.

The plan explains that a CPC government would ensure that for the short-term, donations raised by municipalities, schools, community and religious groups should all be matched by the immediate cash aid from the federal government.

For the medium-term, a Harper government would commit to a microcredit and microfinance program for the region. This programs would extend small loans, and other financial services such as savings, to very poor people for self-employment projects that generate income, allowing them to care for themselves and their families. Menzies explains that the CPC approach would make good on the statements by the International Cooperation Minister following the Asia/Pacific Region Microcredit Summit Meeting of Councils held in February 16-19, 2004.

Finally, the CPC would ensure that 100% of funds offered for long-term rebuilding are "untied".

Tying aid to specific restrictions, such as the source of food aid, raises the costs of procurement by between 15 and 30 percent. Under the Liberals, about 60-75 percent of Canadian aid is tied, one of the world's highest amounts, according to a UN study released in July of 2004. The Conservative approach to ensuring that Canadian aid is untied will act to stimulate the local economy as aid money is spent on food, clothing and shelter and re-development of local industries.

This is a positive plan for providing the disaster-stricken region with meaningful aid. While some are complaining that Menzies and Harper have stayed below the radar on the issue, today's announcement demonstrates that the party leadership were willing to wait and offer a sound plan for the future of Canadian disaster assistance.

It will be interesting to see what PM2 and the Gritcrew will do with this.