MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (July 8, 2008) — For a government that prides itself on accountability and action, Canada’s contributions at the G8 summit in Japan did little to move prior G8 commitments toward measurable results, World Vision says.

This G8 Summit has created little hope for the millions of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, and the parents of the children dying every three seconds to poverty related illnesses. The international development organization points out that once again, the final communiqué failed to include a specific plan to make past promises real.  

World Vision urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to make child health a priority at the G8 Summit by setting annual funding pledges for meeting existing AIDS commitments – a sentiment echoed by more than 30,000 Canadians who have signed petitions, urging  the Prime Minister to honour promises made at previous G8 Summits.

“We’re one year closer to the 2010 deadline for achieving the G8 development goals set in 2005, and there is nothing from this summit that indicates that we are any closer to getting back on track to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” said Michael Messenger, vice president for public affairs, World Vision Canada.

The final G8 communiqué on  Development and Africa released on Tuesday, July 8 reiterates past commitments to increase aid levels and HIV and AIDS funding but still failed to include a specific plan to make these promises real. For example, the communiqué, while mentioning the need to do more for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, excluded specific references to the funding and the timeline necessary for achieving this.

More troubling for Canadians are reports that Canada actively worked to water down commitments. Canada did not endorse a proposed framework of action on health, but instead lobbied for its inclusion as a non-binding set of expert recommendations.

World Vision also sought a timetable to achieve Canada’s promise to increase foreign aid to the donor country average, but there was no indication of progress on this.

Looking ahead, the G8 communiqué referred to the U.N. Summit in September 2008 as a “timely and important opportunity” for addressing international aid.

“In our assessment, this G8 was a missed opportunity for the government to show leadership and to demonstrate accountability to Canadians who expect Canada to do its share. It is urgent that at the September summit, Canada make specific, measurable and generous commitments towards the realization of the MDGs,” Messenger says.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

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World Vision staff is available for media interviews. Please contact:

Yoko Kobayashi
905-565-6200 ext 2151
416-671-0086 (cell)
Yoko_Kobayashi@WorldVision.ca