So, does China get aid from Canada or what?

[HEyHEY]

I've hear it does, but then I hear that the chinese are buying US debt. So what the fuck?
Are we giving money to a nation that doesn't need any?

[Old and In the Way]

1. Public or private?

There's a huge Chinese population in British Columbia, right? Wouldn't surprise me if money is headed back to China from Candian Chinese.

[HEyHEY]

2. public

[illflem]

3. $54 million in annual foreign aid to China from Canada

The government justifies the aid to China because 20% of the world's poor live there.
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=8697&t=1&c=1

[Maple]

4. Yes they do

and until recently it was very much needed.

However now that China is doing so much better, they've cut back on their aid taking, and are now offering help themselves to poorer countries. They sent police trainers to Haiti to help the UN for example.

You can't yank the carpet out from under them all at once...budgets have to be adjusted...but both countries are aware of the transition, and that our help won't be needed in future.

Our foreign aid is under review...we'll be giving as much as before, overall, but to fewer countries....concentrating the help instead of a scatter gun approach.

We'll be trimming help to China, and moving much of it to Africa.

[CHIMO]

5. Looks Like It

According to Hansard.



China
Mr. Ted Menzies (Macleod, CPC): Mr. Speaker, China has an active commitment to foreign aid and even has 125 peacekeepers in Haiti, where Canada has none. In 2003 China spent $2.4 billion U.S. on aid to North Korea.

Why are Canadian taxpayers still giving $54 million a year in foreign aid to China?

Hon. Aileen Carroll (Minister of International Cooperation, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, China is changing very quickly. It has the world's largest population and has very uneven social, economic and political development. Having the Chinese build a more democratic and prosperous country is good not only for China, but for the world. That is why we send experts to China to help at the Supreme Court level and with the legislators.

The opposition may wish us to ignore China. We think it is very important to engage China.

Mr. Ted Menzies (Macleod, CPC): The minister is ignoring reality, Mr. Speaker. China has a booming economy which is now the number one recipient of private foreign investment in the world, receiving $53 billion U.S. in new money. Canadian companies are ranked among the top 10 investors. It is time for China's government to take responsibility for helping its own poor people.

How can the Minister of International Cooperation justify giving aid to China?

Hon. Aileen Carroll (Minister of International Cooperation, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we do not ignore the facts of China. It is important that the opposition understand that 20% of the world's poor live in China.

What is very important is that through our development relationship we are able to engage China on many different fronts. It is our opportunity to impact China's reform and to be there to assist the Chinese with that. I might add that China frequently looks to Canada in that regard in a manner in which it does not look to other countries.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/017_2004-10-28/han017_1455-E.htm

[Telly Savalas]

6. It was the subject of Rick's Rant on the Monday Report...

a couple o' months ago.

Check it out here and scroll down to Jan. 24, 2005.

[tuvor]

7. Link?

ON EDIT: You fooled me with your ability to hyperlink text!

Excellent rant, as usual.