Canadians will head to the polls on May 2, 2011, and World Vision Canada is busy looking to our nation’s political leaders for courage and vision in their electoral platforms and stated commitments to address global poverty.

Frozen Aid Is Less Effective Aid
In 2010, the Government of Canada announced that starting in 2011 they would introduce a freeze on aid for overseas development and emergencies. The 2011 budget confirmed this plan to freeze foreign aid—funding that is vital in helping children and communities overcome issues of poverty.

World Vision has urged all candidates and party leaders to remain fully engaged in global efforts to improve child and maternal health, nutrition and food security and unfreeze the foreign aid budget.

What You Can Do:
1. Read the political parties response to World Vision’s letter:

When the election was announced, World Vision asked each Canadian political party two questions relating to their commitments on foreign aid and their party’s activities to reduce child mortality around the world:

1. What is your party’s position on the 2010 budget announcement to freeze the International Assistance Envelope?
2. Specifically, what is your party’s commitment to long term investment in maternal, newborn and child health?

We're happy to report that we received responses from each political party. Click on the name of each party below to read its response.

• Bloc Quebecois
• Conservative Party of Canada
• Green Party of Canada
• Liberal Party of Canada
• New Democratic Party of Canada

2. Ask your local candidates the following question:

• If you are elected, what actions will you personally take to make sure that the needs of the world's poorest children are a priority for the Canadian government?
• What concrete actions will you take to help stop child trafficking and preventable child and maternal deaths?

3. Let us know what your candidates said – e-mail justice@worldvision.ca

• You can become a fan of WorldVisionCan on Facebook or follow @WorldVisionCan on Twitter.
• Participate in our Cooking Up Justice campaign to communicate your concern for child health and nutrition to our new government in May.
• Learn more about World Vision’s ongoing efforts to seek justice and how you can take action.