• Support for 18,000 children, Kandahar
• Canada and the EU, partnership
• IMF endorses Canada’s Economic Action Plan
• Matching charitable donations in Afghanistan
• Supporting health care in war torn Sudan
• Scholarship programme for the Americas
• Northern medals awarded
• Canada Day – July 1!
• Vancouver – the best city to live in the world
Additional support
for 18,000 children in Kandahar
Women prepare the wool to be used for The Government of Canada is to give UNICEF $2 million in additional funding to help 18,000 children in Kandahar.
The money will be used to improve education for 7,000 children by setting up 200 Accelerated Learning Centres. It will also be spent on the construction of classrooms for 11,000 children as part of Canada’s commitment to build and reconstruct 50 schools in the region. In addition, a ten month literacy programme will be provided for 2,500 women.
Afghanistan has some of the world’s lowest educational levels and it is estimated that half of all Afghan children do not go to school. Illiteracy is a major challenge particularly in Kandahar where only 16 percent of the population can read and write. This is a real barrier to employment and other economic opportunities. Teaching women literacy and numeracy skills is especially important because research shows that educating women has the greatest developmental benefits for their immediate families and for society at large.
Speaking in Kandahar in May, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, “Investing in education is vital to improving human rights and in particular, the rights of women in Afghanistan.”
Canada supports a full range of projects to increase women’s legal rights and access to education, maternal health, the labour market and political life. Despite harsh inequalities, women have seen some progress. More than 2.1 million girls are now enrolled in school and more than 290,000 women have access to small loans and savings services. However, women in Afghanistan continue to be exposed to violence and poverty and deprived of rights to property and education. Addressing these challenges is part of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan and Canada will continue to do what it can to help improve the lives of women and girls.
While he was in Afghanistan the Prime Minister also visited Kandahar’s Dahla Dam and irrigation project. Some 80 percent of the region’s population live along the Dahla irrigation system but since it was built in the 1950s it has fallen into disrepair. The Government of Canada is investing up to $50 million over three years to repair the dam and improve the surrounding irrigation system. It is also helping to train local farmers in new water management and crop production techniques.
The Government of Canada has also announced $12 million in additional funding for Afghan police salaries to support the rule of law in Afghanistan. “It is evident that Afghanistan requires continued support to develop a professional police force that will work with the Afghan National Army to gradually take over responsibility for security in the country from its international partners,” says Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon.
Aerial view of a diversion weir that forms part of the Arghandab/Dahla Dam irrigation system.
Canada has six main priorities in Afghanistan which are intended not only to improve the country’s security but also the lives of its people. They are:
“Canada’s Afghan mission is more than just a security operation. It is also about making a real difference in the quality of life for thousands of Afghan families,” said the Prime Minister.
Forsaken by Lana Šlezić » Images documenting the reality of life for Afghan women
Matching charitable donations
in Afghanistan
The people of Afghanistan have endured years of hardship and lack even the most basic services such as water and education. Their plight has touched many Canadians as Beverley Oda, Minister for International Cooperation, says, “Canadians are asking how they can help and how they can get involved.”
With the launch of Afghanistan Challenge, Canadians can choose to support individual projects being carried out by a number of selected Canadian aid organisations in Afghanistan and their donations will be matched dollar for dollar by the Canadian Government.
By going online www.AfghanistanChallenge.ca, Canadians can learn more about the projects that are being run by CARE Canada, Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Rotary International and World University Service of Canada(WUSC) – the four organisations that the Federal government is working with on Afghanistan Challenge for the next six months.
Canada has been active in Afghanistan since 2002 and part of its mission is to help rebuild the country and improve the lives of the people who live there.
“The Afghan Challenge will give Canadians the opportuntity to engage with projects that are making a real difference to the lives of Afghan women, children and families. It means they can choose the projects that are closest to their hearts and see the Government double their donation,” says Minister Oda.
Among the projects are scholarships for Afghan women, improving education for children and microfinance to help families build their own small businesses. Allan Sauder, President of MEDA says, “With a $75 contribution, women living in this war torn country can change their families’ destiny. Through micro loans they can start and grow businesses as farmers, tailors, carpet weavers and bakers.” And Monty Audenart, Vice President of Rotary International adds, “by contributing $25, you can help ensure that Afghan children will be able to receive the education they deserve.”
The first phase of the Afghan Challenge will run until November and pending a review of its success, a second phase will follow and run until 2011.
Canadians can follow the progress of their chosen projects on the Afghanistan Challenge website and can use a series of webtools to help them run their own campaigns among family and friends and on social networking sites.
The Government of Canada has recently launched a number of e tools on its website www.afghanistan.gc.ca including downloadable videos and photos and an interactive map to give Canadians more information on Canada’s mission in Afghanistan and to provide the public with franker and more frequent reporting on Afghanistan.
Canada took over London’s Trafalgar Square on July 1 to celebrate 142 years since Canada’s federation.
In what has become an exciting annual event, Canada Day in London, was a focal point for Canadians in the UK and anyone else who wanted to find out what this great country is all about.
There were bison burgers, Canadian beer and energetic bouts of street hockey and the enthusiastic crowd were entertained by some of Canada’s up and coming bands and comedians.
Among the performers this year was stand-up comedian, actor and writer, Stewart Francis. As a stand-up, Stewart has performed worldwide including North America, Great Britain, Europe, Asia and South Africa. Other performers included comedians Wade McElwain and Drew McCreadie, R&B band, Loaded Dice, Canada’s top covers act Gasoline Alley and the rising Canadian country music star Amy Nelson.
Amy started her career as a music teacher but has swapped the classroom for the stage. Energetic and with an infectious sense of fun, Amy plays keyboard and guitar and sings her own songs and those of artists who inspire her. She says, “My music isn’t old traditional country music. There are no banjos and no songs about my husband running off or my dog dying and I hope I made a few Brits change their minds about country music!”
Canada and the EU work towards economic partnership
Canada and the European Union have launched negotiations towards an economic partnership agreement which has the potential to boost the Canadian economy by $12 billion and bring significant gains to both Canada and the EU.
“At a time when many countries are retreating into protectionism, Canada is showing the way,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “We are working to open new markets and positioning our country for the future.”
Canada and the EU have a long standing relationship and the EU is Canada’s second largest export market after the United States. In 2008, two way merchandise trade totalled $90.4 billion - up seven percent from 2007.
The negotiations will cover a wide range of areas including trade in goods, technical trade barriers, investment, food safety and sustainable development.
In addition, Canada and the EU have signed an air safety agreement and have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive air transport agreement that will lower prices and provide greater choice for people travelling between Canada and Europe.
IMF endorses Canada’s Economic Action Plan
Canada is weathering the global economic storm better than any other G7 country thanks to its strong financial system and the implementation of its Economic Action Plan, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The IMF says Canada’s Economic Action Plan - which is designed to protect Canadians from the downturn and pave the way to recovery - is “timely, well diversified and structured for maximum effectiveness.” It also says that Canada’s total fiscal stimulus is the largest of any G20 economy.
The IMF says that whilst the global economic slowdown has affected growth, Canada “entered the crisis from a position of strength, reflecting a track record of strong policy management that has supported underlying macroeconomic and financial stability.”
It also says that strong supervision and regulation of Canadian banks has ensured the stability of the Canadian financial system amid the global economic turbulence. This is due largely to Canada’s strict lending practices and a housing market that has avoided the excesses that occurred in other countries.
The IMF also notes that Canada has taken steps to help those who have lost their jobs and to protect the vulnerable.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says, “Canada is better placed to come out of the current economic crisis on a much stronger footing than many other countries.” It’s a view shared by the IMF which says that Canada’s economic growth next year will be stronger than in any other G7 country.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan covers five areas:
Canada supporting health care in war torn Sudan
A group of Sudanese-Canadian doctors will receive almost $3 million over the next three years from the Government of Canada to support their work in war affected communities in southern Sudan.
“Canada is committed to assisting people most affected by the crisis in Sudan,” says the Minister of International Cooperation, Beverley Oda. “This project will improve access to proper health care for so many people in desperate need.”
The Southern Sudanese Healthcare Accessibility, Rehabilitation, and Education Project (SSHARE), aims to increase access to basic community health services in Sudan. The project will support a group of 11 Sudanese-Canadian physicians who have received additional training in Canada and are returning to Sudan to help rebuild their home country.
The project will improve and equip three health facilities and provide vaccines to children in rural communities. It will be implemented by the University of Calgary and Samaritan’s Purse Canada, two established and trusted Canadian partners who have extensive experience in the region.
This initiative is part of Canada’s commitment to the concerted international effort to support a just and lasting peace in all of Sudan. Canadian contributions focus mainly on resolving the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Darfur, and supporting peace and stability in the country.
As part of that process, Canada has increased the number of Canadian police officers to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) from five to 20. “A more robust Canadian police contribution will help us to have a stronger, more sustained influence on the police of southern Sudan,” says Superintendent Doug Coates, Director of the RCMP’s International Peace Operations Branch.
Canadian police have been serving with UNMIS since 2006 and they guide, advise and mentor the fledgling South Sudanese police force.
Enhanced scholarship programme for the Americas announced
Canada is to award scholarships for up to 1600 Latin American and Caribbean students to study or carry out research in Canada.
“Investing in these scholarships will help create a new generation of leaders in the Americas with an extensive appreciation of Canada, including our values, our technologies and know how,” says the Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. “It will also help enrich institutional partnerships between Canada and other countries in the Americas,” he says.
The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) will be available at vocational, undergraduate and graduate levels. The first round of scholarships will be available in the autumn.
Read more about the scholarship programme»
In a separate development, Canada has also launched a major vocational training initiative for Haiti and the Caribbean.
The Skills for Employment Initiative consists of approximately $40 million of investment in a number of different projects that will help women, men and young people gain the skills they need to participate in and contribute to the economic and social development of their own communities.
“Canadian experts are sharing their knowledge with colleges in the Caribbean to help address the current employment concerns,” says James Knight, President of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. “We will support colleges in the Caribbean to better align their skills training to the rapidly changing employment, social and economic realities,” he says.
This initiative is a key part of Canada’s long term commitment to Haiti and the Caribbean.
The Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, has presented Northern Medals to two Canadians in recognition of their work in support of the Canadian North.
Created in 2005, the Governor General’s Northern Medal is awarded to citizens whose actions and achievements have contributed to the evolution and reaffirmation of the Canadian North as part of Canada’s national identity.
Bertha Allen, one of the recipients, is a member of the Gwich’in First Nation and is widely respected for her grassroots leadership in support of Aboriginal and Northern women. Allen founded the Native Women’s Association of the Northwestern Territories and later became its national president. She was also the only woman to serve on the Commission for Constitutional Development which helped to create Nunavut.
The medal was also awarded to Georges Erasmus who has long promoted Native rights. Erasmus was the co-chair of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and helped to produce public policy recognising Aboriginal people as full contributing partners in the Canadian federation.
Vancouver – the best city to live in the world
Vancouver is the world’s most ‘live-able’ city according to the Economist Intelligence Unit which produces an annual league table of the best and worst cities in which to live.
Each city is assigned a score out of 100 based on a number of factors including the quality of its healthcare, its infrastructure, environment and culture.
Vancouver, nestled on the Pacific coast, achieved a score of 98 and was one of three Canadian cities to make the top ten – Toronto was ranked fourth and Calgary fifth while Montreal made it into the top 20 at number 17.
The Economist Intelligence Unit says that high-scoring cities tend to be mid-sized and located in developed countries with a low population density. This means they can benefit from the availability of both cultural and recreational attractions, but with lower crime levels and fewer infrastructure problems than are often found among large populations.
