Budget 2023 undermines Canada’s standing in the world, as government backpedals on aid commitment, says coalition of NGOs

Toronto – March 28, 2023: At a time of enormous need globally, the Canadian government has failed to deliver on its promise to increase foreign aid every year. As part of the Federal Budget 2023, the government declined to announce new investments for any international aid programs.

The coalition of 90 NGOs – representing a wide range of development, humanitarian, environmental and advocacy groups – said that compared to Budget 2022, the overall international assistance funding was cut by no less than $1.3 billion – a 15% cut. The decision by the government to cut foreign aid comes amidst a world facing multiple crises around climate change, hunger, conflict and an erosion of human rights and democratic values.

“The word of the day is ‘undermine’,” said Kate Higgins, CEO of Cooperation Canada which represents over 95 organizations working on development and humanitarian assistance in countries around the world. “This budget undermines Canada’s standing in the world, it undermines progress on sustainable development, and it undermines our security. At a time when the world faces compounding global crises, Canadians expect their government to commit to bold global leadership. This budget does not deliver on this.”

In recent months, a sustained campaign by the international cooperation sector urged the government to prioritize funding commitments towards programs promoting gender equality, health, education, food security and nutrition, climate adaptation, and social justice.

In a letter to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in February 2023, more than 75 aid agencies emphasized the importance of foreign aid as a smart investment in global security and prosperity. They called on the government to commit to a predictable, three-year increase to reach $10 billion by 2025. Budget 2023 is lacking that clarity and predictability on how the government will be increasing its foreign aid envelope annually.

Elise Legault of the ONE Campaign added: “Canada has been there for Ukraine, but we are now letting other countries down. Canada’s commitments in today’s budget not only fail to meet this call but actively threaten progress as we know it. We made a promise to the world to increase international assistance every year, and instead there is a 15% cut in the middle of an unprecedented food crisis and countries crumbling under the effects of climate change. This isn’t the leadership that Canadians or the world expects.”

The coalition said they are hopeful that more funds will come later in the year, as this budget blatantly failed to announce new investments. For example, the government indicated its intentions to renew its historic investments for girls’ education globally made at the G7 in Charlevoix in 2018. Without that renewed investment, four million girls and young women around the world are left with an uncertain future as Canadian-supported education projects will end in the coming months.

“Canada has been a champion of women’s and girls’ rights, but the Feminist International Assistance Policy is an empty promise if Canada fails to back it with concrete actions and resources,” says Julia Anderson of CanWaCH, a coalition of organizations working on women’s and children’s health and rights. “At a time when the world is calling on Canada to step up and deliver on the vision and leadership, it promised, this government chose to step down.”

Contact Information:

Louis Belanger – Bigger than our Borders – 613-265-4417
Sabrina Grover – One Campaign – 403-614-6498
Gabriel Karasz-Perriau – Cooperation Canada – 514-945-0309
Charmaine Crockett – CanWaCH – 613-863-9489

Note: The coalition of aid agencies represents a broad group of civil society organizations working in the field of advocacy, education, economic development, women’s and children’s health, sustainable livelihoods and food and water security, nutrition, gender equality and human rights. The group includes:

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
Action Against Hunger
Alternatives
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
AidWatch Canada
Alberta Council for Global Cooperation
Atlantic Council for International Cooperation
Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI)
Bigger Than Our Borders
Bright Hope for Tomorrow
British Columbia Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC)
CAMFED Canada
Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID)
Canadian Feed the Children
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Canadian Lutheran World Relief
Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases
Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health
Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan
CARE Canada
Centre d’étude et de coopération internationale (CECI)
Children Believe
Coady Institute
Collaboration Santé International
Cooperation Canada
Cooperative Development Foundation of Canada
Crossroads International
Cuso International
Développement international Desjardins (DID)
Development and Peace-Caritas Canada
Dignity Network Canada
Egale Canada
Engineers Without Borders Canada
Equality Fund
Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education
Farm Radio International
Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie
Food for the Hungry Canada
Global Citizen
Grandmothers Advocacy Network
Human Concern International
Humanité & Inclusion
Hungry For Life International
iDE Canada
Inter Pares
International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO)
Islamic Relief Canada
Jane Goodall Institute of Canada
KAIROS Canada
Kentro Christian Network
Lawyers Without Borders Canada
Manitoba Council for International Cooperation
Médecins du Monde Canada
Medical Herstory
Mennonite Central Committee Canada
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)
Mission inclusion
Northern Council for Global Cooperation
ONE Canada
Ontario Council for International Cooperation
Opportunity International Canada
Oxfam Canada
Oxfam-Québec
Partners In Health Canada
Plan International Canada
Presbyterian World Service & Development
Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund
Right To Play International
Results Canada
Salanga
Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation
Save the Children
SeedChange
SOCODEVI
SOS Children’s Villages Canada
SUCO
Tearfund Canada
The United Church of Canada
Unité de santé internationale de l’Université de Montréal
UPA Développement international
Veterinarians without Borders Canada
WaterAid Canada
War Child Canada
The Wellspring Foundation for Education
World Accord
World Hope International (Canada)
World Renew
World University Service of Canada
World Vision Canada
VIDEA