Canada musters $5B in pledges for G8 maternal health plan

HUNTSVILLE, Ont. – Fears of sound and fury failed to materialize Friday as G8 leaders wrapped up a quiet half-day session in cottage country with a commitment to spend US$5-billion on the Musoka initiative, a multi-billion dollar health program for women and children in poor countries.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper kicked off the G8 summit by announcing $1.1-billion in new money over five years for his centrepiece Third World maternal-and-child health initiative. That’s on top of a previous commitment of $1.75-billion, making Canada the largest contributor.

The goal was to convince his counterparts to pledge huge amounts of scarce cash despite the global economic instability. But in the end, the peaceful country air and the soothing call of the loon weren’t enough to ease financial fears and loosen tight purse-strings.

Harper was asked about the accountability of pledging that much money.

“As long as people can see their money being used on things that are important that really change the lives of people that make a difference – money that is used effectively, people will support that. Of all the things we can spend our money on, who wouldn’t want to spend a little bit of money to save the life of a mother that might otherwise die or ensure that a child is able to live a healthy life and grow up to adulthood,” he explained.

Harper also called it a “historic commitment,” but acknowledged many leaders were “cautious” and that Canada had made a disproportionately large pledge. He said he has also received pledges of US$2.3-billion from non-G8 countries and foundations, including US$1.5-billion from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Canada’s maternal health contribution is less than the amount it’s spending on the three days of the G8 and G20 summits this weekend, but it does come close to the $1.4-billion that many analysts say is Canada’s fair share.

“Our contribution will make significant, tangible differences in the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people,” Harper said in a statement after announcing the news to the G8 leaders and seven African leaders.

“Accountability is the key. We must follow through on our initiatives … if the countries with the greatest resources will not take action on the most urgent global issues, who will?”

Canada’s money will be focused on a small number of countries that have extremely high maternal and infant mortality rates, such as Haiti, Afghanistan, Mali, Tanzania and Mozambique, Harper said.

Earlier, Harper greeted his fellow leaders in turn on a red carpet, shaking hands at the entrance to the exclusive Deerhurst Resort.

They have just another half day Saturday to strategize on such weighty issues as nuclear proliferation, terrorism, organized crime, and international development, before they move on to the bigger G20 meeting in Toronto on Saturday.