Virus fight is global

Re: COVID funding and the speech from the throne

The speech from the throne ended by reminding Canadians that we have to address the pandemic globally as well as at home. It is laudable that the government has committed to “invest more” in international development, and the speech specifically referred to ensuring that people everywhere have access to a vaccine. Canada just signed on to COVAX, which was established early in the pandemic to bring countries together to meet the goal of fair access to COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries.

One hopes that “invest more” means that Canada will truly put its money where its mouth is and contribute new and additional aid to end COVID — and address its horrendous economic and social impacts — in poorer nations.

Bob Rae, recently appointed as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, maintains that COVID demands an even higher degree of engagement from Canada in the world. The former ambassador, Stephen Lewis, emphasizes that we need more than rhetoric; Canada must pledge an actual amount of dollars now to lead the way for others in the developed world.

Activist groups are asking for a commitment of one per cent of COVID funding, which seems affordable and reasonable. We must not forget that we are generous and involved global citizens. Sherry Moran, Ottawa