Potential cuts to foreign aid ill-advised

In his address to the nation on October 22, Prime Minister Carney said he would cut wasteful spending and make unprecedented investments in Canada. We should all be clear that cuts to foreign aid, that may be implemented, in fact are wasteful. Diseases like AIDS, TB, and malaria still kill over two million people every year, while nearly three-quarters of a billion people face hunger every day. When other countries pull back, Canada still has an opportunity – and I would say responsibility – to lead the way and reaffirm its global commitments. Maintaining our aid should help to attract new trade partners, create regional stability where flareups may further erode the promise of democracy, and ensure health systems are prepared for future outbreaks. In the long term, we may hope to attract the brightest minds to Canada.

Randy Rudolph, Calgary