Martin Stringer joins Peter Van Dusen on PrimeTime Politics (8pm ET / 5pm PT) to discuss the latest developments surrounding Canadian policy on Mali and Syria.
Canada announced $25 million in new aid for victims of the ongoing civil war in Syria, bringing total contributions to $48 million over the past 12 months.
International Cooperation Minister Julian Fantino and his colleagues agreed to $1.5 billion in new humanitarian aid at an international donors' conference in Kuwait City.
Here are the major contributors to the new commitment:
- $300 million - Kuwait
- $300 million - Saudi Arabia
- $300 million - United Arab Emirates
- $300 million - United States and European Union
About $1 billion is earmarked for food, shelter, and medical aid needed by more than 700,000 Syrian refugees who fled to Lebanon, Turkey, and other neighbouring countries amidst fighting between government and opposition forces. The rest is planned for those still within Syria -- including an estimated two million displaced persons.
Mali
Fantino was a separate summit yesterday in Ethiopia to announce $13 million in new humanitarian aid for Mali. The government there has been fighting al-Qaeda-linked insurgents in the country's north, with the help of a French-led international mission.
The government has ruled out combat activity, sending only a C-17 transport plane as requested by France. The NDP agrees, but also supports using troops to guard Canadian assets on the ground, which is happening, according to recent media reports.
Liberal interim leader Bob Rae told reporters Wednesday that Canada "should not be rejecting a partnership with the United Nations" and international partners, adding the government has failed to adequately support the U.N.-sanctioned force.
-Andrew Thomson
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