i don't want to suggest that i think it's some kind of choice, because i don''t.

but, canada's moral obligations when it comes to infrastructure development are not in africa but in our own reserves. canada has absolutely no moral obligation to contribute to african infrastructure development whatsoever, nor does it owe africa reparations - our reparations belong to our indigenous groups. in a certain sense, it's a kind of colonialism and resource extraction, as we are continuing to export the country's wealth to people that have no legitimate claim to it.

nor is it in our self-interest to build schools for arab girls in north africa - which, i might add, is actually a very wealthy part of the world.

in a perfect world, that money would be coming from arab governments. we would consequently be better off lobbying them to set up their own systems, or otherwise funding political movements that have the intention to work towards democratic self-sufficiency.

put another way: i'd rather build school boards than build schools.