The Calgary Herald Sept. 8, 1998
Canada's claim to be best country may be shot down
By DENNIS BUECKERT
OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's claim to be the world's best country to live in will
take a hit when the United Nations releases its annual Human Development
Report this week.
For the first time, the much-cited report will include an index measuring
poverty in rich countries and Canada's position on that scale will not be
flattering, The Canadian Press has learned.
Although officials won't reveal details prior to the report's release on
Wednesday, they say it will expose troubling facts about disparities
between the rich and poor in Canada.
"It shows Canada in a considerably different light and its boastworthy
ranking isn't quite so boastworthy when you look at internal disparities,"
said one government official, speaking on condition he not be named.
The human development index, published by the United Nations Development
Program, ranks countries according to education, access to health and
average income.
Canada has topped the index for four consecutive years and Prime Minister
Jean Chretien has used it as the basis for his theme that Canada is the
world's best country to live in. The new report won't lend itself to
gloating.
"The government is scrambling to have an answer (to questions raised by
the report)," said another official who requested anonymity.
"There will be a lot of commentary on where Canada sits on this new
poverty index."
In recent years, the UN Development Program has been exasperated at the
way Canadian politicians use the index for bragging points, said Joan
Broughton of the Ottawa-based UN Association.
"I don't think anybody has been more frustrated than UNDP at what, from
their point of view, is a misuse of the HDI (human development index),"
said Broughton in an interview.
"I don't just blame Chretien, this came from (former prime minister Brian)
Mulroney first. 'Canada is the best country in the world. Who says so? The
UN says so.' "
"I think (this week's) report will certainly flag that claim."
The UNDP compiles its indexes using statistics provided by national
governments.
Regards,
Tom Walker
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