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Canadians Assess Global Poverty Fight
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Canada are concerned about global poverty, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies for the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC). 89 per cent of respondents believe Canada should address global poverty, with 29 per cent placing the matter as a higher priority than local issues.
Canadians renewed the House of Commons in October 2008. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 37.6 per cent of the vote, and secured 143 seats in the 308-member lower house. Harper assembled a minority administration. The Tories also earned a minority mandate after the 2006 election, ending more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.
In 1969, Canadian prime minister Lester Pearson proposed devoting 0.7 per cent of each nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to promote economic development in poor countries. Canada currently commits between 0.2 and 0.3 per cent of its GDP for development assistance.
Earlier this month, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn discussed the effects of the global economic slowdown, saying, "Even though the crisis has been slow in reaching Africa’s shores, we all know it is coming and its impact will be severe. We must ensure that the voices of the poor are heard. We must ensure that Africa is not left out. (...) This is not only about protecting economic growth and household incomes—it is also about containing the threat of civil unrest, perhaps even war. It is about people and their futures."
Polling Data
Please indicate which of the following statements best describes your view on Canada’s involvement with regards to with global poverty?
|
I believe Canada should be addressing global poverty |
29% |
|
I believe Canada should address other global issues than poverty |
5% |
|
I believe Canada should address global poverty, but after local issues have been dealt with |
60% |
|
I don’t believe Canada should address global poverty at all |
3% |
|
None of the above |
3% |
Source: Angus Reid Strategies / Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC)
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,002 Canadian adults, conducted on Jan. 16 to Jan. 19, 2009. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
