World Renew is a member of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB), and in republishing their press release below, would like to invite Canadian constituents to continue to advocate for the poor by making their voices heard by their MPs and by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. See our article "CIDA Merger a Concern for Those Fighting Poverty"

From the Canadian Foodgrains Bank:

In April, CFGB supporters were invited to write letters to the government about changes to Canada’s aid program. Many did, asking the government to make poverty reduction a priority for the new program.

We are glad to report that poverty reduction is a key element of the new legislation, which was announced April 29 in the government’s 2013 budget bill. Your letters, along with those from other Canadians, were an important part of this process. Thanks for taking time to write!

At the Foodgrains Bank, we support this legislation. It will guide the amalgamation of Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) into the new Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

We affirm how it specifies the mandate for the new Minister for International Development to be responsible for fostering sustainable international development and poverty reduction in developing countries, and for providing humanitarian assistance during crises.

Click here to read the full statement from the Foodgrains Bank about the new legislation. A review of the process leading to the CIDA/DFAIT merger is at the bottom of this page.

Now that the changes leading to the creation of the new aid program in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development are announced, we invite you to write another letter to the government—this time thanking them for including an emphasis on poverty reduction in the new legislation.

The legislation specifies that Canada’s contribution to international development and humanitarian assistance should be in line with Canadian values. One of the values we hear expressed repeatedly by our supporters is that they expect Canada to respond to the needs of the world’s most vulnerable people—the “least of these,” people facing crisis, trapped in poverty, neglected and forgotten.

It’s important that we let the government know that supporting the poorest of the poor, without expecting anything in return, is a Christian and Canadian value. The primary measure of success of our assistance is not if Canada benefits economically or in other ways, but the degree to which suffering is alleviated, poverty is reduced, and families and communities have access to the health and education services they require.

If you’d like to send a letter, find some suggested ideas below to give you some guidance.

Begin with a note about why you care personally about this issue—what motivates you to give and support groups like the Foodgrains Bank? You can either e-mail your letter, or send a typed or handwritten note.

Address your written letter to:
The Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper

With a copy sent to:

  • The Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation
  • Your own MP (click here  to find your MP by postal code)

Use the following physical address for EACH of the above:
 
Minister or MP Name and Title
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Address your email to:

Sample letter ideas:

To:  Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Affairs Minister, and Minister of International Cooperation

Regarding the new legislation enshrining Canada’s aid program into law:

  • Thanks for how the government made poverty reduction a priority in the legislation.
  • Affirmation for how the legislation specifies that the mandate for the new Minister for International Development is responsible for fostering sustainable international development and poverty reduction in developing countries, and providing humanitarian assistance during crises.
  • A note about how it is important for you, as a Foodgrains Bank supporter, that aid provided by the Canadian government is used to support the world’s most vulnerable people—even if they are in no position to return anything to Canada beyond their gratitude.

Sincerely,
(include your return address)