“The leading cause of death in Afghanistan is not bombs; it is not bullets—it is pregnancy,”

quote by John Rafferty, NDP critic for international cooperation and CIDA

“It is important to make contraception available, whereas our government’s policy is not to include reproductive health in any kind of maternal-health program,” Banerjee (who led CIDA’s mission in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2006) said. “That I consider to be a major drawback.”

Remember those brutal quotes back in March when opposition was pushing harper & co. to include family planning in their big G8 boast about focusing on maternal and child health internationally?

Bev Oda pointedly left birth control off the list of aid projects the government intended to support, saying that “saving lives” was more important than family planning.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon made clear that the maternal-health priority “does not deal in any way, shape or form with family planning.”

And today we find out that harper  has been named co-chair of a UN commission that will track pledges and resources for maternal and children's health in developing countries.

Right. 

That explains his no vote on C-510 (h/t to  Dammit Janet!)

Unbelievable that the UN selected him.  I suspect it's because of the amount of mooney he promised to the cause.  Too bad.  I doubt it'll end up where it should.