Aid for Agriculture

The Prime Minister recently announced that “food security” will be a major focus of Canada’s international aid work, and that Canada will double the money it spends on food security over the next three years. This is very good news for hungry people around the world, and we need to recognize the positive steps Canada has taken in this area.

At the same time, it is important to encourage the Canadian government to focus its investment in agriculture on methods that will build small-scale farmers’ resilience to three big crises they currently face – the food crisis, the climate crisis and the finance crisis.

You can help make Canada’s foreign aid more effectively combat hunger and promote food security by completing the postcard below which will be sent directly to your Member of Parliament and also to the Prime Minister. You will need to scroll down, enter your address and comments in the space provided below. The appropriate MP's address will be inserted automatically.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email Address:

Street Address:

City:

Province:

Postal Code:

The most effective message is one which includes personal comments, so we encourage you to include your own in the space provided. Comments:

Send a copy to the Prime Minister

Preview

Dear _______ _______,

I am thankful for the actions of the Canadian government to fully untie Canada’s food aid program, and to increase investment in food security. As a supporter of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, I see this as a significant step toward working cooperatively with other countries to alleviate hunger.

The majority of the world’s poor are actually smallholder farmers, and many of these are women. For this reason, aid should focus on resilient, small-scale farmers. We should promote agriculture that is resilient to the impacts of climate change. We should make sure that our efforts target rural women, as they are central to food production in many developing countries.

Canada has committed to help fulfill the right to food, to make the world a safer place, and to assist hungry people. I want to see Canada taking the lead in addressing these problems with the most effective means possible. I request that you convey this important message to the Prime Minister's office and to the Minister of International Cooperation (CIDA).

Sincerely,
Your Name