Congrats Canada!!!

I am impressed as well!

OTB

Actually, my understanding is that a lot of that is not new money but a reallocation of existing foreign aid. However, I suppose that the same is likely true of the numbers reported by other countries.

someone said:

Actually, my understanding is that a lot of that is not new money but a reallocation of existing foreign aid. However, I suppose that the same is likely true of the numbers reported by other countries.

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That would be unfortunate, a bit of robbing Peter to pay Paul. There are net new suffering people in the world since Dec. 26th, thus we need net new aid. This isn't directed at Canada specifically but at all rich nations.

OTB

n_v said:

The money IS new money. At least 65% of it is. The rest is some future foreign disaster relief aid being directed directly to this cause. This does not mean other future foriegn aid will be neglected or denied. Therefore no robbing Peter to pay Paul going on here in the least.

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I just copied the following from the Globe's web site (see http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050110.wtsun0110/BNStory/Front/)

"The $160-million in reconstruction funds is money that had already been earmarked for use by the Canadian International Development Agency but had not been allocated for any project yet, Mr. Martin said."

Thus, this part was going to be spent on aid anyway, whether in the same region or someplace else like Afghanistan (which could clearly use reconstruction money) is unclear. Still, it does seem that most of the money is new. Morover, Canada has a much better record than most countries of actually keeping these commitments.

Good for us.

Lets not loose focus, more money is good.

OTB