Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 64621 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05OTTAWA2881, CANADA UNTIES HALF ITS FOOD AID

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05OTTAWA2881.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05OTTAWA2881 2005-09-26 18:18 2011-04-28 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Ottawa
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

261818Z Sep 05
UNCLAS OTTAWA 002881 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAN 
PARIS ALSO FOR OECD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREL CA
SUBJECT: CANADA UNTIES HALF ITS FOOD AID 
 
REF: OTTAWA 1522 
 
1.  (U) Up to 50% of Canada's food aid may now be purchased 
in developing countries.  Until September 22, 90% of Canada's 
food aid contributions had to be Canadian-sourced.  The 
ministers of International Cooperation, of International 
Trade and of Agriculture and Agri-food made their 
announcement after over a year of consultations with Canadian 
agricultural producer groups.  Food aid purchases had 
accounted for only 0.3% of domestic production, so the change 
is not expected to have significant market impact. 
 
2.  (U) Food aid may now be purchased from lower-income 
countries, with the GOC announcement specifying that "users 
of trade distorting subsidies are not eligible as source 
countries."  A 2002 Cabinet decision that expanded untying 
authority for general aid had specifically excluded food aid 
to allow for further consultation and analysis.  The change 
is expected to provide increased flexibility, timelier 
assistance, and support for market mechanisms in developing 
countries.  Although those goals are in keeping with the 
development aims of Canada's International Policy Statement 
published earlier this year (reftel), this move was not 
foreshadowed in the ISP. 
 
3,  (SBU)  A contact at the Canadian International 
Development Agency explained that Canada buys very little 
food aid directly.  Most foreign food aid is provided through 
the World Food Program, with procurement decisions part of 
the contract.  Those contracts will now permit greater 
discretion by WFP in sourcing its purchases using GOC funds. 
The list of 100 countries from which food aid may be 
purchased was drawn largely from countries in the lowest 
three tiers on the OECD DAC list.  A change in the list would 
require agreement by all three ministers, as the countries 
were approved by industry groups.  Our source did not believe 
there was any science behind the choice of 50% as the cut-off 
point:  it was big enough to make a statement and serve as a 
starting point. 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
RODDY