A/HRC/22/50/Add.1 sugars and sodium that are often more affordable.44 Fiscal tools are also available to implement the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Curbing Childhood Obesity Strategy, as recommended by public health specialists. 45 The Weight Coalition of Québec estimates that a Can$0.01 tax per litre on sugary drinks could raise Can$8 million annually in Québec and Can$35 million nationwide. These sums could be reinvested in preventive health care and in supporting access to fresh and nutritious foods in underserved, low-income communities.46 VII. Food aid and development cooperation 48. The Special Rapporteur applauds the contribution of Canada to global food security. Canada has substantially exceeded its minimum food aid commitments under the Food Aid Convention in the past few years. It has led by example by ruling out monetization and untying its food aid. Canada also played a major role in the negotiation of the Food Assistance Convention in 2010-2012. 49. In October 2009, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) launched its Food Security Strategy, focusing on food aid and nutrition, sustainable agricultural development (including agroecological approaches) and research and development. The strategy focuses on small-scale farmers living in rural areas, in particular the role that women farmers play in agricultural production. In Canada’s development cooperation programmes, contributions towards agriculture have grown. As of April 2011, Canada had fully disbursed its Can$1.18 billion commitment to sustainable agricultural development under the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative, the first G8 country to do so; this includes Can$600 million in additional resources. 50. However, the Special Rapporteur has concerns about recent developments in this area. Canada made substantial cuts in its 2012 budget to official development assistance (ODA). The funding envelope will reportedly decrease by 7.6 per cent by the 2014-15 financial year. It appears that the cuts will disproportionately affect CIDA and the International Development Research Centre, as well as negatively impact several country programmes. It is troubling that 10 of the 13 countries to be affected lie in the bottom quartile of the Human Development Index. The Special Rapporteur is also concerned that the criteria for selecting recipient countries might not comply with the ODA Accountability Act.47 51. In accordance with Canada's international obligations, the 2008 ODA Accountability Act specifies that ODA should be consistent with international human rights, consider the perspectives of the poor and contribute to poverty reduction, among others. Government ministers responsible for administering ODA are required to report annually on compliance with the Act. Nevertheless, the Government reportedly has failed to apply human rights criteria in its reports as required by the Act.48 44 45 46 47 48 Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity/Open Policy Ontario, The poor still pay more: Challenges low income families face in consuming a nutritious diet, December 2010, p. 13. B.Von Tigerstrom, “Tax and Subsidy Measures for Obesity Prevention”, Background paper submitted to the Public Health Agency of Canada (2009); and Public Health Agency of Canada, “Obesity in Canada”, 2011 (see footnote 35), p. 33. See also A/HRC/19/59, paras. 39 and 50 (d). Information provided to the Special Rapporteur by the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC). Canadian Council for International Cooperation, “The Report to Parliament on the ODA Accountability Act: Third time lucky? A Review of the Third Report to Parliament on the Government of Canada’s Official Development Assistance, 2010-2011,” October 2011. 15