OTTAWA - A new report says the world's richest countries have come up short on their commitments to assist the developing world.
The report released today by Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon says the OECD and Group of Eight countries are $10 billion behind the five-year, $50-billion commitment they made at their 2005 summit in Scotland.
The report prepared by officials in the Foreign Affairs Department says some G8 members -- like Canada -- are meeting or surpassing their goals, but it says others are not.
It finds there has been significant progress in some areas but says there are still problems in key areas like water and sanitation and maternal and child mortality.
World Vision's Caroline Riseboro says G8 countries are to be commended for their commitment to accountability, but she cautions that the goals they set are too low and the report offers no plan for how catch up in areas where they fall short.
Riseboro says the world's richest countries need to provide "substantive and decisive leadership" in their aid commitments.
