MAKE POVERTY HISTORY - 2005

News Release

For immediate release: November 24, 2005

Election Time
Time to Focus on Poverty Says Stephen Lewis

With a federal election soon to be called, Stephen Lewis, United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa has called on Canadians and all political leaders to support the Make Poverty History targets to help end global poverty. He has also called on all political parties to “explicitly state in their party platforms their commitment to reach 0.7% in the immediate future.”

“We welcome the support of Stephen Lewis,” says Gerry Barr, President and CEO of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation and Co-chair of the Make Poverty History campaign in Canada. “With 1.2 billion people living in absolute poverty there is an urgent need to make poverty history. All political parties should let Canadians know how they intend to meet our international commitments to the world’s poor.”

Make Poverty History is also calling for a national leaders’ debate on poverty issues during the election campaign.

Stephen Lewis Statement:

"We are clearly heading into an election campaign. There is every reason in the world for every one of us, including our political leaders, to embrace the targets of the Make Poverty History campaign. This issue needs to be raised at every all-candidates' meeting, in every riding, and in every possible fashion, to get Canada to embrace a schedule by which the 0.7% target will be reached. I call on all parties to explicitly state in their party platforms their commitment to reach 0.7% in the immediate future, preferably by 2010. Canadians want this. Our leaders should act." - Stephen Lewis speaking at Carleton University, Ottawa, November 22, 2005

For more information:

Katia Gianneschi
Make Poverty History
(613) 241-7007 ext. 311
media@makepovertyhistory.ca