Over the past few days, the busiest person I follow on Twitter has been our esteemed leader, Mr. Stephen Harper, posting updates on his obviously busy schedule abroad. He is hosting bi-lateral meetings with heads of states and touring old buildings. The latter of which was humourously noted, "(g)oing through a secret passageway at Farmleigh. For you Clue fans it's in the study, with the candlestick. http://ow.ly/m5fil". I was impressed with the reference. Now for the rest of the story.
According to the CBC, Canada has pledged just under one hundred million dollars for aid to Jordan. Jordan is currently under great economic strain from the influx of Syrian refugees as well as the threat of terror attacks. They undoubtably need the additional support and I'm proud, as usual, to be Canadian. However, with the cuts to funding here in Canada I have a difficult time reconciling my pride in our unwavering determination to help those less fortunate outside of our country with the disappointment in our inability to help those less fortunate inside our country.
I'm not (completely) mathematically disinclined. I understand that 98.5 million dollars goes much farther in a foreign country than here due to our high standard of living. For example, in 2010, the low income cut-off (LICO) in Canada was estimated at $29,623 (for a family of four in a city between 30,000 and 99,999). Based on the 2006 numbers from the World Bank, Jordan's poverty line is set at JD46.3 per month, or 1.43 Candian dollars to 1 Jordanian Dollar so $66.21 Canadian dollars per month, or $794.51 per year. And from the same World Bank stats, 13% of Jordanians live at or under this amount while in Canada an estimated 9.2% live at or below our level. Well obviously that's a big difference.
From the same World Bank stats, 13% of Jordanians live at or under the poverty level while in Canada an estimated 9.2% live at or below the LICO levels. Right now I seem to be making a pretty good case for money leaving Canada. One more thing, let's look at population size. As of January, 2013, Canada has a population of 35,056,064 people (but in 2009 was 33,726,900), while the estimated population of Jordan is 6,482,081 (estimated in 2006 to be 5,906,760). And the totals are: 13% of 5,906,760 is 767,879; 9.2% of 33,726,900 is 3,102,875.
According to my math, and I'm no wizard, we have about three times more people living at or below the poverty level here in Canada. 98 million dollars is a lot of money. While our programs and funding receive cuts, while our federal government lays off thousands of people, and the provincial government has promised to reduced jobs as well, why are we giving so much? Wouldn't 5 million make a difference in Jordan? Because I'm certain it could even make a difference here.
And don't get me wrong, I am not ignorant of the difference between what people are going through in Jordan compared to what our issues are here; death and destruction vs. getting your power cut off because you cannot afford the bill. or not having fresh drinking water because you live on a reserve. We need to take care of people who need it, you won't get an argument from me on that. But let's not take from those in need to give to those in need. That seems counter-productive.
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