Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation, spoke to 1,400 people in Ottawa earlier this November in a speech entitled "The Millennium Development Goals – Moving From Consensus to Momentum."
In the speech, Carroll mentioned five of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; to achieve basic education all over the world; to reduce child mortality; to improve maternal health; and to form global partnerships for development.
Carroll stated that progress has been made in reaching the goals but then admitted, "At our current pace, we will not reach all of the MDGs in all regions before 2200." She then added that a major breakthrough is obviously needed, as the goals are intended to be met by 2015.
According to Carroll, the Canadian government is committed to an 8 per cent annual increase in international assistance. However, at this rate, Canada's internal goal of doubling assistance will not be achieved until 2010.
» South Asia Partnership Canada: The Millennium Development Goals - Moving from Concensus to Momentum
» United Nations: UN Millennium Development Goals
» The World Bank Group: Millennium Development Goals
The Dominion is a monthly paper published by an incipient network of independent journalists in Canada. It aims to provide accurate, critical coverage that is accountable to its readers and the subjects it tackles. Taking its name from Canada's official status as both a colony and a colonial force, the Dominion examines politics, culture and daily life with a view to understanding the exercise of power.