So if it is possible to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, why are we lagging behind on so many fronts? When there is enough food to feed the world, why do millions die of malnutrition? When a vitamin A tablet worth only 6 cents can prevent blindness in children why are they still going blind?

What we need is the political will both in developed and developing countries.  This is the heart of the matter. As part of a movement of over half a million post-secondary students, we are in a position to influence our country's policy measures. That means we have the power to create the political will to strengthen Canada’s contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The Make Poverty History campaign has been working relentlessly since 2005 to help Canada pull its weight in its role as a global partner for development by calling for more and better aid, debt cancellation and trade justice. The 8 Goals Campaign is primarily an education campaign which champions the Millennium Development Goals on campuses and beyond. However, as education must lead to action, we work closely with Make Poverty History and support its policy platform on aid, debt and trade.

We want:

More and Better Aid

Every 3 seconds, a child dies as a result of extreme poverty. Poverty prevents people from eating adequately, caring for the sick, and making a living. Focused, quality aid can be the first step to helping millions of people work their way out of poverty. Canada must:

• Reach the UN target of giving 0.7% of our national income (GNI) to foreign aid.

• Enact legislation (Bill C-293) to make “ending poverty” the exclusive goal of Canadian foreign aid.

To read more about aid and to see Canada’s track record, click here.   

Trade Justice

The richest countries in the world spend more on agricultural subsidies for their own farmers than the gross national product of all African countries combined. Right now the rules that govern trade make the playing field extremely unequal. Developing countries are sometimes pushed to take down trade barriers while wealthier countries sell goods below cost globally. Making trade fairer would be a huge step towards allowing developing countries to escape from poverty. Canada must:

• Press for trade and investment rules that ensure governments and their citizens can choose the best solutions to end poverty and protect the environment.

• Support measures that boost farmers' power in the marketplace and that bring an end to the dumping of goods, which damages the livelihoods of poor rural communities.

To read more about trade justice and to see Canada’s track record, click here. 

Debt Cancellation

Between 1970 and 2002, the poorest countries in Africa received $294 billion in loans and paid back almost that entire amount in principle and interest. However, they still owe over $200 billion in penalties and interest to the richest countries of the world. Millions of people go without access to health care or education as their governments instead spend money to service enormous external debts. Developing countries need immediate and unconditional debt cancellation to have the means to end poverty. Canada must:

• Promote the cancellation of the multilateral debt owed by the poorest countries to to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and wealthy governments.

• Ensure that debt cancellation has no strings attached, enabling developing countries to implement their own national plans to end poverty.

To read more about debt cancellation and to see Canada's track record, click here. 

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