...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad

Lamest. Response. Ever: Last month I sent an e-mail to the Prime Minister, various Cabinet Ministers and my MP, asking why it was that Canada, though its international development agency, CIDA, was continuing to help develop the super-infrastructure plan for Gaza, an area controlled by Hamas. I pointed out the, well, madness of such an effort, given that Hamas has an agenda of wiping out the Jewish state and that it has the dubious distinction of having made Canada’s short list of terrorist organizations. I just received the following reply, which answers my query...not in the least:

As the Minister of International Cooperation, I am responding to your message of August 7, 2008, to the Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, regarding Canada's position on assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

On March 29, 2006, Canada decided to suspend direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority in light of the new government’s failure to commit to the Quartet's principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel and of previous peace agreements. However, we have continued to respond to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians with programs implemented through multilateral and other partners. Canada has also started working again with the new Palestinian government led by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in June2007.

Canada contributes humanitarian aid to assist Palestinians, especially those in Gaza. Through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canada focussed close to $40 million in 2006–2007 in assistance to Palestinians, delivered in large part through humanitarian assistance programs implemented by the United Nations and other multinational partners.

CIDA carefully analyzes and monitors aid recipients and works with trusted, well-established international and Canadian partners to ensure that assistance does not benefit Hamas or other terrorist groups either directly or indirectly.

Through these partnerships, Canada is working to help create an environment conducive to peace in the Middle East. Canada has a long-standing commitment to regional stability and socio-economic development in the region. We support the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized borders, and a peaceful resolution to the current conflict through negotiation. In seeking to help realize this vision, development assistance is a vital element of our Middle East policy.

Thank you for sharing your views on this important development issue.

Sincerely,
Hon. Beverley J. Oda

Oh. So CIDA is ensuring that absolutely none of its super-infrastructure planning will benefit Hamas, the terrorist group that’s in power and that has an iron grip on the benighted territory, eh? CIDA and Bev and certain that only the good citizens of Gaza, who, um, ELECTED THE BLIGHTERS and who continue to support it, are reaping the benefit of Canada’s largesse, right?

Thanks, Bev. I feel so much better now.

The most sickening part of this pathetic missive —it was written by (or at least on behalf of) a Conservative cabinet minister, who should know better. Shame on the Hon. for shovelling this warmed-over tripe.

Posted by: scaramouche at 17:17 | link | comments (2)

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