This piece originally appeared as a guest post on the McLeod Group’s blog: http://www.mcleodgroup.ca/2015/04/21/canada-balancing-budget-on-backs-of-worlds-poorest/ The latest foreign aid numbers were released on April 8. Globally, aid remains at near record high levels (US$135 billion). This is good news for the global fight against poverty. The numbers tell a rather depressing story, however, if you are Canadian. In … Read more
In February 2009, Bev Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announced 20 countries in which the former CIDA aimed to concentrate 80% of Canada’s bilateral aid. This list of focus countries was intended to reflect Canadian interests, country need, and the potential for Canadian aid to make a difference. In most cases, these were countries where … Read more
Canada’s media, opposition parties, and development community have all grappled with the questions of how much and why Canadian foreign aid funds were lapsed in the government’s 2012-2013 fiscal year. Initial reports projected upwards of $800 million underspent. Later figures suggest that the total amount lapsed was closer to $290 million. With the end of FY2013-2014 … Read more
It is beyond clichéd to reflect back on the year just past when we reach the tail end of December. In most years, Canada’s foreign aid programs would not merit the attention of a year-end review; however, looking back on 2013, such reflection seems warranted. After all, we have gone from being up in arms … Read more
Recently Canadians have witnessed a forced marriage with the merger of CIDA and DFAIT into the new Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (DFATD). This union was forced, in a sense, because at least one of the ‘partners’ in the merger appears to have been forced into it unwillingly. It is of course the … Read more