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Cooperation Canada congratulates Liberals on 2021 election win

Cooperation Canada congratulates Liberals on 2021 election win

by | Sep 21, 2021 | Canada Votes, Elections, News

OTTAWA, Sept. 21, 2021 – Cooperation Canada congratulates the Liberal Party of Canada for winning the 2021 federal election, resulting in a Liberal minority government.  Canada’s international cooperation community looks forward to continuing to work with the federal government in ensuring that we can effectively tackle major global challenges such as the climate crisis, the COVID pandemic, insecurity and protecting human rights and gender equality.    

During the snap election’s 36-day campaign, Cooperation Canada sent a survey to parties to help understand where political candidates stand on international cooperation and foreign policy matters. We received responses from six parties, including the Liberal Party of Canada. 

In its response, the Liberals promised to continue to champion gender equality on the world stage by strengthening the potential of the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) and delivering annual increases in international development assistance until 2030 to help realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The Liberals also promised to continue to fight the global COVID pandemic by making good on previous government commitments to the global vaccine-sharing initiative COVAX to donate a minimum of 200 million vaccine doses by the end of 2022 to groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and invest $5.3B in climate finance to support a green recovery from COVID-19. 

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada and the Minister of International Development, to contribute to a world that is fairer and more sustainable for all,” said Nicolas Moyer, CEO of Cooperation Canada.  “Our sector shares many of the priorities put forward by the Liberal party and looks forward to helping Canada deliver on its full potential for an impactful and effective Feminist International Assistance Policy.” 

See all full federal party responses to our election survey here. 

Cooperation Canada thanks all parties for participating in Canadian political discourse and democracy, including joining in our survey to parties, helping us and our membership better understand each party’s platform and priorities relative to international cooperation and foreign policy issues.  

 

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. 

 

Media Contact 

Kat Guerin, Communications Manager
[email protected]  

Afghanistan dominates headlines, but foreign policy shut out of leaders’ English debates

Afghanistan dominates headlines, but foreign policy shut out of leaders’ English debates

by | Sep 8, 2021 | Canada Votes, Elections, News

Over the Labour Day long weekend, the Debate Broadcast Group announced the topics for the official Federal Leaders debates set to take place Wednesday and Thursday evenings this week. Conspicuously absent from the English debate is any discussion of foreign policy and all it encompasses.   

Throughout the campaign, leaders have made big commitments on affordable housing, and health care. Policy areas that are within provincial jurisdiction. Unlike these issues, Foreign Policy – including all its facets of trade, international development, global health, defense, and immigration – is solely the domain of the federal government. In the only official debate to be held in English, Leaders must be asked about the many critical foreign policy issues that continue to shake Canadians through the campaign. 

For weeks Afghanistan dominated the headlines, highlighting the community leaders, humanitarian workers, and women’s rights defenders who worked alongside Canadians to build a future for their country that they could be proud of. Leaders of all political parties need to be transparent with their plan for the region, Canada’s responsibility to the many who have been left behind, and how the Afghanistan experience should shape Canadian foreign policy in the decades to come. 

As these stories fade from the newspapers, it is essential that they not be forgotten. This is equally true for the billions of people around the world that have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. As Canadians grapple with a growing fourth wave of the pandemic, the evidence is clear that we cannot end COVID-19 here until we end it everywhere.  Yet today less than 2% of people in low- and middle-income countries have been vaccinated. This statistic indicates that we are a long way off from ending our fight against this virus.  Canada’s approach to foreign policy will have an important role in ending the threat of new variants and safeguarding our economic recovery.  

Our global recovery from COVID-19 and the risk of losing two decades of progress on women’s rights in Afghanistan are just some of the important global conversations that cannot be swept under the rug. Including foreign policy in the French language debate is an important step, but it is simply not enough. In 2019 over 14 million Canadians tuned in to the English debate compared to the 5 million viewers of the French debate. Leaders are accountable to Canadians in both official languages.  As it stands, most of the country won’t hear the parties’ plans for a central pillar of federal responsibility. 

Nicolas Moyer, Chief Executive Officer of Cooperation Canada says, “Debates are important to our democracy. They should matter, but they can’t when major issues are left off the table. That is why we’ve joined along with many associations in the foreign policy space since the election began to call on the debate commission to include foreign policy as a debate topic. With our country and our world at a turning point, Canada’s plan for its role in the world has never mattered more.” 

This election, let’s give our leaders the opportunity to have an honest conversation with Canadians about our global future by putting foreign policy on the agenda. 

The Canadian Council for International Co-operation Reacts to the Federal Cabinet Announcement

by | Nov 20, 2019 | Canada Votes, News

Ottawa, ON (November 20th, 2019) – The Canadian Council for International Co-operation welcomes today’s cabinet announcement, which features ministers François-Philippe Champagne, foreign affairs; Karina Gould, international development; Maryam Monsef, women and gender equality; Jonathan Wilkinson, environment and climate change; Mary Ng, small business, export promotion and international trade; Harjit Sajjan, national defence; and Marco Mendicino, immigration, refugees and citizenship, on files related to foreign policy. We look forward to working with these ministers who will be dedicated to fostering a strategic commitment to global engagement and an ambitious international policy for Canada.  

Canada must do its fair share globally to mitigate and address the impacts of extreme climate change and growing global instability. 

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“Increased instability and climate change are being compounded by rising populism, nationalism and authoritarianism, and are challenging global structures and values Canada has helped to build. As the US withdraws from its multilateral engagements, and the UK goes through Brexit uncertainties, it leaves an opportunity for Canada to play a leading role. Together, we can lead a process to establish a timetable of real increases to Canada’s Official Development Assistance that will meet the ambition of Canada’s international assistance policy.” 

Nicolas Moyer

President and CEO, Canadian Council for International Co-operation

The Canadian international cooperation sector has welcomed strong commitments in the Liberal government’s previous mandate to partnership with Civil Society.  We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively in advancing the quality and influence of Canada’s international assistance policy. We particularly look forward to working with Global Affairs Canada to realize the full potential of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance policy to generate lasting and inclusive global progress. 

  

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For more information and to request an interview with Nicolas Moyer, please contact: 

Sophie Rosa, Director, Public Affairs and Member Services 

srosa@ccic.ca / Phone: (613) 219-6514 

 About the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC)  
The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) is Canada’s national association representing international development and humanitarian organizations. Together with our member organizations, CCIC seeks to end global poverty and to promote social justice and human dignity for all. CCIC is committed to making this goal a public priority and to encouraging the actions necessary to make a poverty-free world a reality. 

Media Statement: CCIC Congratulates the Liberal Party of Canada for Winning the 2019 Federal Election

Media Statement: CCIC Congratulates the Liberal Party of Canada for Winning the 2019 Federal Election

by | Oct 22, 2019 | Canada Votes, News

Ottawa, ON (October 22, 2019) – The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC), Canada’s national association representing Canadian organizations working globally in sustainable development and humanitarian assistance, congratulates the Liberal Party of Canada for winning the federal election yesterday.  

CCIC would like to thank the Liberal Party of Canada for taking the time to answer our questionnaire to federal parties and share its stance and priorities relative to international development and foreign policy matters. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Government of Canada on these issues moving forward. We hope to see real increases in investments relative to Gross National Income which would allow for Canada’s impact to match the ambition of its progressive policies. 

CCIC has appreciated positive and productive relations with the Government of Canada, including strong working relationships with Ministers Marie-Claude Bibeau and Maryam Monsef. In the last few years, the government set ambitious targets through its Feminist International Assistance Policy to focus Canada’s international assistance on supporting gender equality as an essential element of sustainable development. This policy has tremendous potential to deliver lasting positive change for people around the world. CCIC hopes the Government of Canada will continue to engage with civil society organizations to establish the frameworks needed to achieve the objectives set in the policy. 

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“Canada’s support for development cooperation is a measure of the importance it places on being a leader and doing its fair share in the world. CCIC looks forward to continue working with the Government of Canada to improve Canada’s international assistance, as part of how Canada can be a global leader in a fast changing and interconnected world.”

Nicolas Moyer

President and CEO, Canadian Council for International Co-operation

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About the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) 
The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) is Canada’s national association representing international development and humanitarian organizations. Together with our member organizations, CCIC seeks to end global poverty and to promote social justice and human dignity for all. CCIC is committed to making this goal a public priority and to encouraging the actions necessary to make a poverty-free world a reality.  

 Media Contact:
Thida Ith, Media and Communications Officer
[email protected] / Phone: (613) 241-7007 ext. 343/ Cell phone: (437) 779-0883 

Media Statement: CCIC Congratulates the Liberal Party of Canada for Winning the 2019 Federal Election

MEDIA STATEMENT: The Canadian Council for International Co-operation Reacts to the Proposed Cuts on International Assistance in the Conservative Electoral Platform

by | Oct 1, 2019 | Canada Votes, News

Ottawa, ON (OCT 1, 2019) – The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) is concerned about the 25% cut to Official Development Assistance (ODA) proposed in the Conservative Party of Canada’s electoral platform released today. In a letter sent to CCIC on June 7th, 2018, Andrew Scheer indicated: “I believe in the inherent benefits of development assistance to Canadians and the world. Conservatives are committed to strengthening Canada’s record on foreign aid.”  This aligns with public support highlighted from a recent survey:  81% of Canadians agree that Canada should do its fair share along with other countries to help developing countries.

International development and humanitarian assistance are important parts of Canada’s global leadership that contribute to visible impacts. For example, South Korea went from a major aid recipient to an important trading partner for Canada and the world. In as little as 25 years, although there is still much to do, Rwanda, after suffering a vicious genocide, has gone from crisis to great strides in social and economic development. 

The Conservative Party has a long history of leadership in international development and humanitarian assistance. The G8 Muskoka Initiative for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) launched in 2010 by the Conservative government was widely acclaimed in Canada and abroad. CCIC welcomes further discussions with the Conservative Party of Canada on international assistance, and how Canada can continue to be a global leader in a fast changing and interconnected world.

CCIC published a media advisory and a fact sheet outlining some key figures on Canada’s role in international assistance. We also sent a survey to leaders of federal political parties on their positions regarding international co-operation issues. We invite all parties to submit their answers. The results will be published on our site here.

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About the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC)
The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) is Canada’s national association representing international development and humanitarian organizations. Together with our member organizations, CCIC seeks to end global poverty and to promote social justice and human dignity for all. CCIC is committed to making this goal a public priority and to encouraging the actions necessary to make a poverty-free world a reality.

Media Contact:
Thida Ith, Media and Communications Officer
[email protected] / Phone: (613) 241-7007 ext. 343/ Cell phone: (437) 779-0883

Letter to Leaders’ Debate Commission

Letter to Leaders’ Debate Commission

by | Sep 25, 2019 | Canada Votes, News

 

CCIC has sent the following letter to the Leaders’ Debate Commission asking for questions on Canada’s foreign policy and international development efforts to be included in the leaders’ debates that will take place on the week of October 7. This letter was endorsed by CCIC members listed below. If you are a member and would like to add your signature, click here.

 

September 24, 2019

The Right Honourable David Johnston
Commissioner
Leaders’ Debates Commission
155 Queen St., Suite 301 Ottawa ON. K1P 6L1

Dear Mr. Johnston,

The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC), Canada’s national association
representing Canadian organizations working globally in sustainable development and humanitarian
assistance, and its undersigned members are writing to ask the Leaders’ Debate Commission to
include questions on Canada’s foreign policy and international development efforts during the
leaders’ debates the week of October 7.

Canadians care about their country’s global reputation and are rightfully proud of all that Canada
and Canadians have accomplished through its diplomacy, military, trade, and development
engagements. From the Suez to Syria and from acid rain to anti-personnel landmines, Canada has a
strong tradition of constructive and impactful global engagement. Today’s rapidly changing world
will require continued agility and resolve by our elected government if Canada is to both influence
global change and adapt to it.

The Canadian population knows the importance of international assistance as part of this
engagement. A recent survey by Nanos and the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) found that:

• 71% of Canadians agree we have a moral obligation to help people in developing countries.

• 90% see international aid as contributing to greater global stability and peace.

• 90% agree that when developing countries are stable places to work and live, we all benefit.

• 81% agree that Canada should do its fair share to help other countries.

Canadians understand that Canada does best when the rest of the world does well. Yet they also
substantially overestimate Canada’s international assistance – with Canada’s Official Development
Assistance now representing a near-all-time low relative to Gross National Income. This represents
the continuation of declining investment in international assistance over decades.

Canadians have a right to know how their leaders will lead, abroad just as at home. The leaders’
debates can play an important role in this regard. I trust our appeal will be taken into
consideration. I would welcome an opportunity to discuss this matter further with you and members
of your Advisory Board if appropriate.

Sincerely,

President and Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC)

 

 

List of signatory organizations:

Alberta Council for Global Cooperation
Amnesty International Canada
Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI)
Atlantic Council for International Cooperation
British Columbia Council for International Cooperation
Camfed Canada
Canadan Foodgrains Bank
Canadian Christian Relief and Development Association
Canadian Feed The Children
Canadian Lutheran World Relief
CCISD
CECI
Climate Action Network Canada
CODE
CoDevelopment Canada
Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada
Crossroads International
Cuso International
Développement international Desjardins
Grandmothers Advocacy Network
Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD)
Islamic Relief Canada
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
L’Oeuvre Léger
Manitoba Council for International Cooperation
MCC Canada
MEDA
Northern Council for Global Cooperation
Nutrition International
Operation Eyesight Universal
Plan International Canada
RESULTS Canada
Right To Play
The Hunger Project
USC Canada
Veterinarians without Borders / Vétérinaires sans frontières
WaterAid Canada
World University Service of Canada
World Vision Canada