What are some of the major problems faced by “Third World” Countriestoday? Who should be held responsible for these problems? Why? What hasCanada done to help “Third World Countries”?There has always been a dominant country in the world that sets theeconomic standard throughout powerful countries. Canada has always been atop rated economic country, usually behind the United States and otherlarge Commonwealth countries. Starting back in the early to mid 60’s,Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau decided to use Canadian revenue asforeign aid.
These included “Third World”. Some of the major problems faced by “Third World” countries todayinclude poor towns which have had a lack of food sources due to the seriouspoverty, lack of clean drinking water, lack of good sanitation systems,lack of good living conditions, lack of jobs and there is no industry,therefore no import or export revenue. The governments of the “Third World”countries have done horrible jobs of creating good living conditions fortheir people and in all have not tried to bring their country out of theireconomic slump. As Canada entered it second century, Prime Minister Trudeau called fora complete review of Canada’s foreign policy. Starting in 1968 interestedCanadians including politicians, journalists, professors, business leaders,financial experts, as well as church and labour leaders were invited tooffer opinions and advice in what was called the Trudeau Review.
Theending of this meeting brought about six foreign policy booklets whichoutlined the benefits of Canadian foreign aid. Some of these benefitsincluded to help the Canadian economy grow stronger, to keep Canadaindependent, to work for peace and security, to promote fairness andequality for everyone and to improve living conditions for all peoplethroughout the world. The Canadian foreign policy review suggested that Canada strengthenedit’s ties with Latin America. Trudeau visited Mexico, Cuba and Venezuelain 1976. Canada’s trade with Latin America increased from $1099 million in1970 to $3418 million in 1976. Also Canada gave an increasing amount ofdevelopment funds to a number of Latin American countries.
Canada, in 1973 had a major concern about the middle east and made aneffort to bring about a lasting peace to the Arab-Israeli conflict. 1050Canadian military specialists became part of the United Nations emergencyforce where they tried to maintain a cease fire by providing supplies,transportation and communication during the 1973 peacekeeping role. The Trudeau foreign policy review recommended that Canada was to workhard to support the United Nations and make it an effective organizationfor international co-operation. Canada contributed heavily, and still doesso, to all the U.
N organizations that are striving to help poor nations andare working toward the disarmament of nuclear weapons and human rights. Canada contributed the ninth largest share of the regular annual budget tothe United Nations. Another issue that faced Canada was the fact that China’s membershipin the United Nations brought Canada into conflict with some other U. Nmembers, especially the United States.
Since 1966 Canada had said that itwas becoming increasingly more important that China be represented at theU. N. At the time, the U. N only recognized the former government of Chinawhich was established on the island of Taiwan. The Canadian government prides itself on sending foreign aid todeveloping countries.
In the 1970’s there was an estimated 4. 2 billionpeople on the earth, more then 2. 5 billion of them were starving. It wasalso estimated that by the year 2000 the starving population could double. Canada tried very hard to provide these needy “Third World” countries withthe best possible aid. Without the help of Canada as well as other “First World” countriessuch as the United States and Australia the “Third World” countries wouldnot be around for this long and would have absolutely no hope of survival.
