The Cold War and decolonization in Asia framed Canada's decision in 1950 to offer capital and technical assistance through the Colombo Plan for Co-operative Economic Development in South and Southeast Asia. Since then, Canada has disbursed over $40 billion in official development assistance (ODA) to countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. A reserved player in Western aid efforts in the 1950s, the Canadian government became more enthusiastic in the 1960s, a time of optimism, …showed first 75 words of 1599 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1599 total…cent going to foreign aid during 1975, was remarkable during that time, when the dollar was worth more. Allowing it to slide to its mere 0.26 per cent today is shameful, especially with the decline in value of the Canadian dollar. The objective of 0.7 per cent GDP designated for foreign aid and developments set out by the UN are realistic and within Canada's grasp.17 Canada must return it's funding level for foreign aid to their original levels.