Canada’s latest federal budget has made no mention of foreign aid or international development assistance for the first time in more than 15 years, prompting disappointment among Canadian aid organizations and charities. These groups are urging the federal government to clarify its international development priorities and explain how foreign assistance will feature in its future foreign policy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government presented its federal budget on Thursday, but the document contained no policy announcements or financial commitments related to international aid, foreign assistance or global development projects.
A review by The Canadian Press of federal budget documents dating back to 2010 found that every previous budget had included references to international assistance and development cooperation. The latest budget is therefore the first in more than 15 years to make no mention of these areas.
Kate Higgins, head of Cooperation Canada, an umbrella organization representing many Canadian aid groups working internationally, expressed concern over the omission. She said the budget was almost entirely silent on international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
Higgins argued that the world is currently facing serious humanitarian and global crises, making it inappropriate for the government to overlook international assistance.
Concerns Over Planned $2.7 Billion Reduction in Foreign Aid
According to Higgins, organizations working in the aid sector believe the federal government intends to proceed with a previously announced plan to reduce foreign assistance by $2.7 billion over the next four years.
However, she acknowledged that aid organizations were somewhat relieved that the latest budget did not announce any additional cuts.
She urged the government to recognize the importance of international development funding, emphasizing its critical role in responding to humanitarian emergencies around the world.
Higgins pointed to the severe humanitarian situation facing Palestinians in Gaza and the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as examples of crises requiring international cooperation and assistance.
She said international development cooperation directly supports many of the priorities the Canadian government itself identifies as important, including defence, global stability, diplomacy, economic partnerships, trade diversification, democracy and the protection of human rights.
Aid Organizations Look to Upcoming Foreign Policy Review
Aid organizations are now looking to the government’s expected foreign policy review, scheduled for later this month, hoping it will provide a clear strategy for international development assistance and humanitarian operations.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand addressed the issue during a news conference on Friday, saying the government’s updated foreign policy strategy would be released within the coming weeks and would include its position on development assistance.
Anand emphasized that development assistance remains an important priority for Global Affairs Canada. She noted that Canada had provided humanitarian assistance this year to several regions, including Cuba, Lebanon, Gaza and Sudan.
UN Had Recently Recognized Canada as a Major Humanitarian Power
Interestingly, just four days before the federal budget was presented, Tom Fletcher, the United Nations’ top humanitarian affairs official, described Canada as a major humanitarian power supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged communities around the world.
Fletcher had expressed hope that Canada would continue playing an important role in international humanitarian efforts.
The absence of any reference to foreign aid in the federal budget has nevertheless disappointed several organizations working in the sector.
Results Canada, an organization focused on ending poverty, responded to the budget’s release by sharing an image of a deflated balloon on social media.
Lindsay Sheridan, the organization’s policy director, said her team searched the budget for information about international assistance, vaccines, tuberculosis and other major humanitarian issues but found no clear references to these subjects.
She said the organization had hoped the budget would provide some clarity about the government’s future policies and international assistance priorities, but that expectation had not been met.
UNICEF and Other Organizations Urge Government to Act
UNICEF Canada also expressed disappointment, saying that at a time of growing global risks and uncertainty, the government should at least have acknowledged the importance of international development assistance.
According to the organization, international aid helps save children’s lives and supports their healthy development. It also strengthens healthcare, education and protection systems, helping establish the foundations for peaceful and stable societies.
The ONE Campaign, which works to strengthen partnerships with African countries, has also called on the Canadian government to protect global health and humanitarian investments by allocating $5.5 billion annually for development assistance.
The organization further urged Canada to coordinate its development, trade and investment institutions in ways that promote mutually beneficial partnerships with African countries.
Parliamentary Committee Calls for Greater Transparency in Aid Spending
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance had also recommended that the government clearly explain in its budget documents how Canadian aid funds are being spent and prioritize directing resources towards the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Critics argue that the Carney government should establish clear priorities for foreign assistance and take a leadership role in international development initiatives alongside other developed countries.
Sheridan cited previous Canadian governments as examples of how the country had established specific international development priorities.
She noted that Stephen Harper’s government had made maternal and child health a major component of its international assistance policy, while Justin Trudeau’s government had focused on supporting education for children in conflict-affected regions.
According to Sheridan, Canada played an important role in both areas through cooperation with G7 countries and international financial institutions.
She said the complete absence of international assistance from the latest federal budget represented a missed opportunity to introduce a comprehensive and effective global development strategy.
With aid organizations continuing to demand clarity, the upcoming foreign policy review is expected to provide a better indication of how the Carney government intends to approach Canada’s international humanitarian and development commitments.
