Canadian government provides millions in aid to North Korea
The Canadian government has sent nearly $10 million in aid to North Korea through the Canadian International Development Agency. Is that funding at risk because of the alleged test of a nuclear device in North Korea? If the government decides to suspend aid, will it also attempt to stop private efforts to deliver aid to North Korea?
From the Canadian Foodgrains Bank list of North Korean projects:
DPRK, North Korea, Soybean Proposal, #1937-01
Lead Member: Presbyterian World Service & Development
Supporting partner(s): Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Christian & Missionary Alliance, Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, Mennonite Central Committee Canada, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, The Salvation Army, United Church of Canada, World Relief Canada
Country: North Korea (DPRK)
Implementing partner(s): Food Aid Liaison Unit (FALU) and World Food Programme (WFP).
Food/Inputs: 1320 metric tonnes Soybeans
Budget: $722,900.00
Time Period: August 2005--February 2006Canadian Foodgrains Bank's contribution of soybeans will be used to produce micronutrient-fortified food for infants, orphans and pregnant and nursing women across North Korea, in 10 provinces. This contribution implemented by FALU will support WFP and the Government in their efforts towards saving lives and promoting the health and nutritional status of the most vulnerable by providing regular access to minimum energy and dietary requirements. In total 1,138,308 beneficiaries will be fed with this donation. Canadian Foodgrains Bank has been involved in providing food assistance to vulnerable groups in DPRK since 1996. To-date, the Foodgrains Bank, with generous donations from Canadian farmers and the Canadian Government, has donated over Cdn$38 million of food and relief aid to the DPRK, via FALU. In the past three years, Canadian Foodgrains Bank has, among other commodities, shipped over 17,000mt of wheat to DPRK for a variety of strategic interventions.
That's all well and good, but at some point it will have to be noted that the $722,900 worth of aid to North Korea meant that the the North Korean government was able to divert $722,900 towards the development of a nuclear device without being forced to face the consequences of a starving populace (or at least a populace starving somewhat less).
It's common sense.
Now the Canadian Foodgrains Bank receives funding for projects from the Canadian International Development Agency. CIDA has been supporting the Bank and others to the tune of $9.31 milllion a year to help Kim Jong Il feed his people:
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has been providing only humanitarian assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
In 2003-2004, Canadian Official Development Assistance to the DPRK totalled $9.31 million through multilateral channels.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, like all other countries and territories eligible for Canadian development assistance could benefit from various programs listed below (certain conditions apply):
- geographic and multilateral programs or the International Humanitarian Assistance Program;
- other programs that allow institutions, associations, Canadian and international non-governmental organizations and, private sector enterprises to receive funding from CIDA to execute projects worldwide; and
- the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, to be managed beginning in 2006 by the Canadian Embassy to the DPRK, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Certain conditions apply? Like not building nuclear weapons?
The minister in charge of CIDA is Josee Verner, representing the riding of Louis-St-Laurent. She is the Minister of International Cooperation and the Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages.
I don't see a news release in October in which Minister Verneer defines how federal aid money to North Korea is going to be affected by recent events. At the very least, the CFLI program ought to be suspended.
At some point, someone has to realize that aid to North Korea is aid used to build nuclear bombs. Anything that helps stabilize the regime and keep it from worrying about how to feed its own people helps Kim Jong Il focus on nuclear development.
Maybe that aid is necessary anyway, just to keep the regime stable, since implosion is something most leaders seem to want to avoid for as long as possible. But if it is unavoidable anyway, delaying it has resulted in creating a North Korea that will have working nuclear devices when it implodes, instead of having to deal with an imploding North Korea that was merely trying to make one.
In any case, that time has passed. So what now? The federal government and Prime Minister Stephen Harper are going to have to make some tough decisions:
- Does Canada continue to provide millions of dollars of aid to North Korea trough government programs or by funding other groups?
- If not, does the government pull that funding, and when?
- If a charity manages to put together an aid mission without help from the federal government, does the government stop that mission? Through what legal means?
- If the support is ended, will the opposition parties use it as an excuse to paint the Conservatives as heartless? Will the argument resonate with Canadians?
Not easy stuff. But then Stephen Harper as shown himself willing to deal with tough issues.
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Comments
Ask Maurice Strong!
http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-91536-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
Posted by: OMMAG at October 10, 2006 10:36 PM
What you are forgetting is that this "aid" goes only to feed Kim Jong-il and his cronies. The Korean people don't get so much as one grain (http://china-e-lobby.blogspot.com/2006/09/news-of-day-september-13.html - eighth item).
If Harper reminds the Canadian people of this, he'll be fine. Cutting off the "aid" is the right thing to do.
Posted by: D.J. McGuire at October 10, 2006 10:39 PM
Why not make any aid to North Korea subject to them suspending their nuclear bomb program? Let Dear Leader explain to his starving people why he's refusing aid. In the meantime, Canada saves millions of taxpayer dollars.
Before any bleeding hearts start crying, let's recall that North Korea has one of the largest standing armies in the world while it's citizens go without food... and just threw millions of dollars away on an ego-trip bomb blast.
Posted by: Mac at October 10, 2006 10:40 PM
And don't kid yourself into thinking that KJI used the foodgrains to feed the populace!
He used it to feed his Military...because when they get hungry he will be first on the slaughtering block!
Posted by: OMMAG at October 10, 2006 10:45 PM
What has Jack the Dipper to say about this mess?
After all, he and his party have mouthed-off about Afghanistan ad nauseam. Now that one of his peace-loving socialist buddies has once again had another juvenile tantrum, there seems to be a curious silence.
Posted by: Tom in Mississauga at October 11, 2006 05:34 AM
I'm not sure what food goes to the military and to other party officials. The aid agencies help distribute the aid, or at least they say they do. If so, I think we can assume that at least a good portion of the aid is getting to the people. If not, then you're right, the argument for suspending all aid, regardless of the nature of the aid, grows stronger.
Posted by: Steve Janke at October 11, 2006 06:42 AM
I agree with Steve. unless it can be proven that the food aid is not being delivered to those that need it in N. Korea.
Posted by: Undecided voter at October 11, 2006 06:51 AM
It doesn't matter if the aid is actually getting to the people. The point that Steve makes is perfectly logical. By providing aid, we free up funds and resources for nefarious use.
I’m more inclined to buy a bum a meal than give him cash because I know he’ll eat the food, but with cash he might buy something I don’t think he needs. As the donor, I have the right to attach strings. Until North Korea learns to play nice with others, and appreciates that pride is a luxury to a beggar, it should be cut off in every way but diplomatically; which is to say that we WILL pick up the phone when they call.
The best ‘aid’ we could provide the people of North Korea would be to topple the government. But I know no one has the stomach for that… So, we have to wait for it to collapse like the Soviet Union. Providing aid, only keeps the government in power and allows them the luxury of evil schemes in the meantime.
The recent event has not changed my view. If you asked me last week, last month, or last year, my sentiment would have been the same.
Posted by: Gargoyle at October 11, 2006 09:14 AM
Stop the money and any other aid now.
Posted by: Pissedoff at October 11, 2006 10:48 AM
What the above commentators say is absolutely true - not only is a good portion of food aid diverted to the military/elite, but aid agencies know this and keep sending food anyway. Such loss is "leakage", and the thinking is that best to accept it so at least most of the food can get to those who need it. I've actually worked with CIDA's food aid centre in the past, so am familiar with what can happen.
Posted by: Dudley Morris at October 11, 2006 03:43 PM
If Dudley Morris 3:43 is correct then the aid groups are complicit in North Korea becoming a nuclear power.
Posted by: rebarbarian at October 11, 2006 04:40 PM
Rebarbarian,
Complicit – ‘Associated with or participating in a questionable act or a crime’
That’s some strong language. I doubt anyone is in North Korea supplying food in hopes that the North Korean Government can better concentrate on destabilizing the area. I think that instead they are there to help in their own misguided way. Like the NDP, they mean well, but lack the forethought to see the error of their ways.
Posted by: Gargoyle at October 11, 2006 05:46 PM
This program is not about North Korea. It's a welfare program designed to buy the votes of Canadian grain farmers - disguised as a "save the children" racket.
A classic example of what Bastiat called the stupid greed and false philanthropy that underlies government programs.
The best way to fight communism in other countries is to fight it at home.
Posted by: at October 11, 2006 07:18 PM
You are, of course, assuming that if we don't send food that Kim would actually buy it instead, and take that money out of his bomb development fund. Two not very safe assumptions.
Posted by: Walrus at October 11, 2006 08:22 PM
One pack of slimy crooks feeding another decaying clot of rump rangers.
Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at October 12, 2006 11:17 AM
 
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