While enjoying my morning coffee on the balcony on Canada Day, I thought about how lucky we are to live here. I have a roof over my head, food in the fridge and money in the bank. Yet I worry.
Those who live in poorer countries do not have the strong health system we have in Canada. Indeed, 64 nations spend more on their debt than on health care for their citizens. Donor countries like Canada must ensure these nations have access to the same treatments and vaccines that we do. Our prime minister has said that the pandemic is not over until it is over everywhere, and we have stepped up on a number of fronts, but it is not enough. In terms of government COVID-19 spending, only 0.13 per cent has gone to the global emergency response.
So we are asking the government to increase this to at least one per cent of overall COVID costs. There are Canadians who will say we have our own poor in Canada. I agree. But Canada is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and we can do more both at home and abroad.
Sherry Moran,
Ottawa
