I suggest it is time for the Liberal government to pull back on their charitable giving around the world and follow the old adage that ‘charity begins at home’ — meaning ‘charity exists because of the will of taxpaying Canadians’ as it should! There! I finally said it!I'm sure some would argue that every developed country gives money to less-developed countries under the auspices of charity, more formally categorized as foreign aid.But let’s just be realistic! This reincarnation of a Liberal government simply has a ‘spending problems’ and foreign aid falls into that category. I can only wonder if this spending is truly altruistic, or simply an avenue to gain popularity and favour with certain foreign leaders? More of everything we Canadians use on a daily basis is becoming taxed; from heat and electricity in our homes, to the fuel in our vehicles and the food we put on the table. It just might be time for Canadians to offer more benefits at home to address Canada’s growing needs and looking out for Canadians First! Or do governments need to take a serious look at cutting some of those taxes and simply spend less with more care? Worse yet, do we even know the benefits of all that money we are handing out? How much is it leading to enhancing their war efforts rather than lessening poverty and improving the lifestyle of their people? Are we helping them become ‘more self-sustaining’ or ‘less self-sustaining’? The big question is, has all this foreign aid simply become a crutch? Is it now just expected? Have we contributed to their continued need and expectations? Last year alone Canada spent a record high CAD $8.1 billion (US$6.2 billion) on international development and aid — which some groups still claim is too low? Are we undermining progress for sustainable development as the world faces a compounding global crisis?The growing ‘ask’ has now gradually increased to $10 billion. I find this absurd when there have been a growing number of appeals for foreign NGOs and donors with headquarters in the global North to take a backseat and let more home-grown aid occur, including trade and domestic economic growth.Canadians have long been renowned for their kindness on the world stage and supporting causes that give other countries a ‘hand-up’ and something to strive towards. The Charities Aid Foundation 2023 World Giving Report shows Canadians ranked 8th out of 119 countries for giving. However recent data published by The Fraser Institute for that same time period reports that charitable giving by Canada has actually declined. Specifically, the share of tax filers who reported donating to charity fell from 19.4 per cent in 2018 to a lower 17.1 per cent in 2022. Canadians overall are just generally donating a smaller share of their household income. This isn’t surprising to me based on the uncertainty Canadians are voicing with the Canadian economy overall. Canadians have a history of caring for our own! Who knew that past world leaders, energy production, Hockey Night in Canada, Molson Canadian beer, and leaving our front doors unlocked (do we still do that?) that Canadians would also lead in aggressively donating around the world. One would wonder how this can be, when our own prime minister refers to Canada as ‘a country that is a 'post national state' with no national identity. Clearly, we do have one — caring for others with less than us!I want to say how proud I am to be Canadian, and one reason is because of how we care for each other. We may not always agree, nor should we, but at the end of the day — we care! Regardless, I believe it should happen year-round rather than a reoccurring event at the end of the year.But here's the thing, charity should always start at home! It is long past time to prioritize the needs of Canadians. There are domestic challenges that must be addressed, including the cost of living, affordable and accessible housing, healthcare, crime, and immigration. Before we increase our foreign aid budget, we must first reinforce our own foundation. It is not about ‘turning our backs’ on the world, but about putting our own country’s needs first!Our needs are apparent, we see them every day... people digging in our garbage bins, sleeping on doorsteps behind bins, or near heat vents in 20 below weather, not to mention (but mostly unknown to most) those who are dying in our streets for a variety of reasons. For me, it is obvious at this point that the Liberal government has lost what little connection it ever had to the real needs and wishes of the Canadian electorate.Finally, I have one ‘Christmas Wish’ that in 2025 we have an early federal election. And that Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government are replaced! If my wish is fulfilled, the incoming Conservative government needs to prioritize investing in Canadians and addressing domestic concerns and needs – ‘first’! It ultimately boils down to priorities, which can only be ‘Canadians First.’
