We are just six months away from the crucial G8 and G20 Summits in Canada, global meetings of the world’s most powerful politicians. Their decisions could very well determine the fate of people living in poverty for years to come.

As host of the meetings, Prime Minister Harper is right now putting the final touches on his Agenda. It’s important that he hear from the thousands of Canadians who want him to make poverty alleviation and progress on climate change a signature feature of these meetings.

Please send the letter below, or write in your words, urging Canada to take initiatives to combat extreme poverty, transform global economic and financial systems, and tackle the impact of climate change on poor countries. A copy of your letter will be copied to the three Opposition Leaders and to your local MP.

The world's richest nations are meeting in Canada for the G8 summit in 2010. Foreign aid will be on the agenda, so this meeting presents an opportunity for Canada to demonstrate bold global leadership to do something about extreme poverty. Delivering on our promise to give 0.7% would greatly increase Canada's leadership credibility and help to ensure significant results at the G8. Please ask the Prime Minister and your local Member of Parliament to commit to a solid timeline to keep our promise on foreign aid.

All we need to get to the point is politicians with the courage to keep their promises and give more in foreign aid.

In the last week, Canada’s behaviour has been called “destructive”. We’ve been tongue-lashed from various corners of the globe. There have even been calls for Canada’s expulsion from the Commonwealth.

All because our feeble response to global warming threatens to undermine a global consensus to counter climate change and help vulnerable countries adapt to the dramatic changes that are already occurring – changes that threaten to unravel the gains made in the fight against poverty.

CIDA’s sudden decision to cut the funding to one of Canada’s oldest social justice coalitions is ominous. It needs to be protested by all who believe in the human rights of people living in poverty.

The 2006-2009 KAIROS program has been independently evaluated as effective and efficient.  CIDA itself has funded the organization and its precursors for more than three decades. In the process of developing the propodsal with KAIROS, Canada’s aid agency gave no indication the program did not fit CIDA’s “priorities”.

Please help end this tragic toll

How do you answer a child’s question: “Why did my mother die?’’

What to say to a mother who asks : “Why did my child die?”

The answer to both is brutal: “Because we haven’t done what could be done.”

1,500 times a day a pregnant woman dies. So to, 24,000 children under five are lost. Almost all have died needlessly. Almost all live in developing countries. Simple, effective health measures would have saved most of them. Nine years ago, leaders of the developed world promised to end this wretched loss of life by committing to the Millennium Development Goals. We are woefully behind in keeping that promise.

Act now to give all of Canada’s children the right to a decent life

We’d like to tell you that November 24 is a day to feel good about being a Canadian. But right now, we can’t. Twenty years ago, on November 24, 1989, all of our elected representatives voted in the House of Commons to make child poverty history in Canada by the year 2000. It was to be our legacy for the generations of the new Millennium.

Sadly, it is 2009 and our MPs have failed to keep that promise. One in 10 Canadian children still live in poverty. Even more shocking, that figure does not include children in the Territories, on reserves, or in shelters. In First Nations’ and Inuit communities 1 in every 4 children grows up in poverty.

As host of the G8/G20 Summit in June 2010, Canada has an amazing opportunity to provide some bold leadership to solve global challenges of extreme poverty and climate change.  With the global economic crisis, the food crisis and the impacts of climate change combining to reverse the gains made over the past few years in reducing poverty, it is even more important to show world leaders that redoubled efforts are needed if we are to continue to move forward on achieving the Millennium Development Goals.  The Canadian government is deciding now what the agenda of the 2010 G8 should be and what kind of new initiatives it could propose.

Send a strong and clear message now to Prime Minister Harper that Canadians want their government to take initiatives at the G8/G20 in June 2010 to combat extreme poverty, transform global economic and financial systems, and tackle the impact of climate change on poor countries.