November 29, 2021 (Ottawa, ON) – On Tuesday, Mary Simon, Canada’s first indigenous Governor-General, delivered a forward-looking Speech from the Throne designed to move Canada forward, for everyone. Leading the country through the pandemic has not been easy and will only become harder as we move towards our recovery. Rooting difficult decisions in a commitment to “increasing Canada’s foreign assistance budget each year, and investing in sustainable, equitable, and feminist development that benefits the world’s most vulnerable and promotes gender equality” is the best way to support Canadians and build the future we all deserve.

We, as organizations whose members represent the bulk of Canada’s international cooperation sector, celebrate this announcement, and look forward to working with the government to implement this commitment. Working together, we can create a healthier, more equitable and resilient world that benefits everyone.

The pandemic has fractured supply chains, caused inflation to soar, and nearly collapsed our health care system. These are realities the government must address to curb the rising cost of living, and to give our local economy the tools it needs to recover. To do this, the Prime Minister has renewed his commitment to stopping the spread of COVID-19 everywhere.

“The pandemic has had a devastating impact around the world with the largest burden being carried by caregivers, particularly women. Canada’s actions to ensure access to vaccines for all will become a moment in history that we will reflect on with regret or pride,” said Julia Anderson, CEO of the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH). “Global and domestic economic recovery is dependent upon robust supply chains which require thriving local economies. None of this is possible when global health systems are collapsing. Access to life-saving tools in the fight against COVID-19 is essential to kick-starting our recovery and stabilizing trade relations.”

The conditions we create for our global recovery must align with our efforts to protect our planet. Ensuring that communities around the world are empowered with the knowledge and tools needed to protect our biodiversity is crucial to this goal. “Investing in international cooperation is one of the most important tools in the fight against climate change,” states Maxime Michel, Interim CEO of Cooperation Canada. “Low- and middle-income countries are often the first to suffer and feel the impacts most deeply, of the global climate crisis. This commitment to increasing Canada’s official development assistance means that we have an opportunity to act more quickly to ensure that those most impacted by climate change can respond to their own needs.”

“Canada’s International Cooperation sector is always ready to advise and support the Prime Minister and International Development Minister Sajjan as they walk the path towards recovery and equity,” said Michel and Anderson.

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About Cooperation Canada

Cooperation Canada brings together and advocates for Canada’s international development and humanitarian organizations by convening sector leaders, influencing policy and building capacity. Together, we work with partners both inside and outside Canada to build a world that’s fair, safe and sustainable for all.

Cooperation Canada has prepared an alternative mandate letter for the Minister of International Development, which highlights the key global challenges that should require the Minister’s attention during his mandate, in the perspective of the main priorities for making tangible progress of Canadians. Read it here.

 

About Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health

The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) is comprised of approximately 100 Canadian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, health professional associations and individuals partnering to improve health outcomes for women and children in more than 1,000 communities worldwide.

 

For more information:

Maxime Michel

Cooperation Canada

[email protected]

613-899-8766

Charmaine Crockett

CanWaCH

[email protected]

613-863-9489