Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

1st Session, 41st Parliament,
Volume 148, Issue 76

Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker

International Cooperation

United Nations Millennium Development Goals

Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, my question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. In 2001, the United Nations set out eight Millennium Development Goals. During the 2010 G8 and G20 summits, which Canada had the honour of hosting, we as a nation took a leadership role in championing maternal and childhood health.

Last week, while I was distributing malaria nets in a village in Uganda, I received further confirmation that by including malaria prevention programs in maternal health strategies we would be tackling three of these eight goals. With the 2015 deadline looming, I believe that we, as a country, have to put forward an honest effort into seeing that these goals are achieved.

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What steps is Canada taking to ensure that the eight Millennium Development Goals set out by the United Nations are achieved by the 2015 deadline?

Hon. Marjory LeBreton (Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, I put on the record last week, I believe, the government’s work so far on the maternal and child health initiative. With respect to the honourable senator’s specific question about the eight goals, I will have to take that as notice and provide a written response.

Senator Jaffer: Honourable senators, I have a supplementary question. Over the past few weeks, while I was in Uganda, I worked closely with a number of multilateral organizations, many of which influenced and helped develop the Millennium Development Goals I just mentioned. I observed with great admiration the great work these organizations do in the areas of health, human rights and humanitarian assistance.

How much money is Canada investing in these multilateral organizations to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals, and what funds are we giving to countries specifically to develop the Millennium Development Goals?

Senator LeBreton: I think I reported to honourable senators last week that we had invested $1.1 billion in significant new resources for maternal and child health. I will also seek further clarification on how much has been expended, how much remains, and what the plans are for the future.