OTTAWA, November 4, 2025 – Today, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne unveiled Canada’s 2025 federal budget, including plans to cut Canada’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).
This announcement comes at a time when military and security spending is on the rise, but contributions to humanitarian aid, particularly child protection and education, are falling short.
Danny Glenwright, President and CEO, Save the Children, said:
“Many countries, including Canada, have cut their aid budgets, just as development and humanitarian needs are at an all-time high. I witnessed the devastating consequences of aid cuts firsthand during a recent trip to South Sudan. At Doro Refugee Camp, I saw empty classrooms; child protection services halted; and met with parents worried about how they would feed their children.
With one in 11 children worldwide requiring humanitarian assistance, organizations like Save the Children face impossible choices: deciding which emergency to respond to, which communities to support, and which children to prioritize.
Poverty, instability, health crises, climate effects, gender discrimination, and other drivers of inequality do not stop at borders. By investing in children and the next generation, we help build a stronger, more resilient future—both at home and around the world.”
Save the Children is deeply disappointed by the budget announcement. Canada’s leadership on the international stage—anchored in our long-standing values of solidarity, human rights, and gender equality—is needed now more than ever.
Supporting ODA is not only an expression of these values, but it is also a strategic investment in global stability and peace, which are essential to Canada’s own security and prosperity. The cuts to ODA threaten Canada’s role as a global leader.
We call on this government to recommit to international assistance and children’s rights.
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About Save the Children
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Canada and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.