CDN Commonwealth

From the BBC:
"Canada reviews Commonwealth support in Sri Lanka protest"

Canada is reviewing its financial support for the Commonwealth in protest against alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said. Mr Harper also confirmed he would boycott the group's November 2013 summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital. Canada is the second-largest financial contributor to the organisation of 53 former British territories.  Sri Lanka has previously dismissed its objections as biased and unfair. The Indian Ocean island nation said other Commonwealth members had agreed the meeting would go ahead. On Monday, Mr Harper said he had not taken the decision to boycott the November meeting lightly. "Canada is deeply concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka," Mr Harper said in a statement.  "The absence of accountability for the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian standards during and after the civil war is unacceptable." Mr Harper cited the recent impeachment of the Sri Lankan chief justice, as well as "ongoing reports" of the incarceration of political leaders and journalists and allegations of disappearances and extra-judicial killings.  "The Sri Lankan government has failed to uphold the Commonwealth's core values, which are cherished by Canadians," he said. Canada contributes about 20 million Canadian dollars ($19.4m; £12m) each year to the Commonwealth, including C$5m to the secretariat, which runs the group. A loss of Canadian financing could threaten the organisation, analysts say. "Obviously we will examine our engagement and our financing of the Commonwealth, which is quite considerable, to make sure that we are wisely using taxpayer dollars and reflecting Canadian values," he told reporters.

^ This is a big and good step for Canada to take. Rather than keeping a blind eye to all the abuses that other member countries do and simply hand-over money Canada is taking a much needed stand. It seems that the UK stays silent so they don't loose more influence in their former colonies. Most of the Commonwealth countries are poor and located in Africa and Asia that don't have the same "Westernized" values as the other Commonwealth countries like: the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. I would rather see the Commonwealth collapse then see countries allowed continued membership when they are corrupt or murderous. I say this as a Canadian citizen as well as a Commonwealth citizen. Hopefully, other member countries will see this move and work to change the organization from the inside before anything else happens. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24433188