cooperation canada_fullcolour_rgbpng
Cooperation Canada’s Reaction to the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit

Cooperation Canada’s Reaction to the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit

by | Jun 17, 2025 | Global Leadership, News, Statement

The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit has concluded in Kananaskis, Alberta, which marked the G7’s 50th anniversary.

The G7 had a chance to lead—but did not meet the moment. In the face of rising humanitarian needs and intensifying climate, conflict and debt crises, the Summit lacked the urgency, ambition and bold vision required to respond to today’s converging crises.

The lack of meaningful dialogue this week on shrinking aid budgets—despite escalating global needs—signals a worrying retreat from international solidarity. The prioritization of military spending without corresponding increases in development assistance is a short-sighted misstep.

The Summit failed to match the ambition of previous summits on development, including the G8 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis in 2002, when world leaders placed Africa and bold development cooperation at the heart of their agenda. The mention of debt relief fell far short of the concrete action required to reform global financial systems and address unsustainable debt burdens in low-income countries.

While we welcome Canada’s enhanced support for Ukraine, we are concerned by the lack of attention to crises in Sudan, the Sahel and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Though calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and protection of civilians in the Middle East are positive, we regret the absence of strong commitments to restore humanitarian access and uphold international humanitarian law. We welcome the G7’s opposition to transnational repression—an important affirmation of civic space, human rights and international law.

We commend Canada for its leadership in convening this Summit at a time of great global disruption and for efforts to reflect the complexity of today’s global landscape. We welcome the inclusion of world leaders beyond the G7 and the leaders of the United Nations and the World Bank and note with optimism steps toward stronger G7–G20 alignment. Greater coherence across global governance forums is essential to addressing shared challenges.

“Ultimately, while this Summit was a demonstration of international cooperation at a time of deep global instability, it fell short of the moment. It failed to deliver the collective ambition needed to address escalating humanitarian crises, deepening inequality, conflict and threats to human rights,” said Kate Higgins, CEO of Cooperation Canada.

“Cooperation Canada stands ready to support Canada’s G7 Presidency in the months ahead to ensure it becomes a force for good in a time of global disruption,” she said. “Civil society has a vital role to play in shaping global processes like the G7, and we will continue to advocate for meaningful participation, including at upcoming G7 Ministers’ Meetings, to help build a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.”

Notes to Editors

  • Cooperation Canada is the national voice for Canadian international development and humanitarian organizations. Representing over 100 organizations, we convene, coordinate and advocate for effective, inclusive and accountable international cooperation that contributes to a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.

Media Contact

Gabriel Karasz-Perriau, Senior Communications Manager
[email protected]
(514) 945-0309

Cooperation Canada’s Reaction to the 2025-2026 Main Estimates

Cooperation Canada’s Reaction to the 2025-2026 Main Estimates

by | Jun 10, 2025 | Global Leadership, News, Statement

The 2025–2026 Main Estimates, tabled by the Government of Canada on 27 May 2025,  outline planned federal expenditures totaling $486.9 billion. These estimates serve as a foundational component of the government’s expenditure plan, detailing the financial resources required by departments and agencies to deliver programs and services for the fiscal year. Given that the government has not yet produced a budget for 2025-2026, this is our best indication of the direction of government spending.  

Decline in International Assistance Funding 

A notable concern within the 2025–2026 Main Estimates is the apparent decline in allocations for international assistance. While specific figures for the International Assistance Envelope (IAE) are not detailed in the Main Estimates, the overall trend indicates a reduction in funding for global development initiatives.   

This is concerning given the pressing global challenges that require sustained support, as well as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge not to cut Canada’s foreign aid or development financing during the 2025 federal election campaign.   

The Government of Canada’s latest published figures for 2023-2024 had the IAE at $12.3 billion and Official Development Assistance (ODA) at $10.2 billion. Canadian ODA in 2023-2024 which could be directed to other purposes beyond in-donor support for refugees and special support for Ukraine and Covid-19, already declined by 6% from 2022-2023. 

Laying the Groundwork for Robust International Cooperation 

Amid escalating global crises, development and humanitarian needs are intensifying, and funding shortfalls from other key donors are widening. It is imperative for the government to maintain and safeguard ODA, and to do so through a multi-year budget trajectory for the International Assistance Envelope which ensures investments are timely, transparent and predictable. 

Budget transparency and predictability are essential for maximizing the impact of Canadian assistance. This builds trust with Canadians and international partners and enables more effective coordination, planning, and strategic allocation of resources. 

Likewise, we must protect and expand humanitarian assistance, upholding Canada’s tradition of supporting the world’s most vulnerable in times of crisis. This government has committed to maintaining an annual international humanitarian assistance budget of no less than $800 million. In times of exacerbated crisis, the government should increase this investment in line with global needs, building on Canada’s leadership, which reached a high of $1.3 billion in 2022–2023. 

This is also an opportunity to modernize Canada international assistance systems to make our engagement more effective and to better balance funding across civil society, multilateral and bilateral channels for maximized impact. Likewise, we should enhance funding flexibility to support local leadership and respond to changing contexts, while leveraging new and innovative Canadian and global partnerships. 

As Canada prepares to welcome world leaders to the 2025 G7 Summit later this month, we look ahead with anticipation to how it will demonstrate global leadership by reaffirming its commitment to principled and impactful international cooperation. 

Notes to Editors

  • Cooperation Canada is the national voice for Canadian international development and humanitarian organizations. Representing over 100 organizations, we convene, coordinate and advocate for effective, inclusive and accountable international cooperation that contributes to a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.

Media Contact

Gabriel Karasz-Perriau, Senior Communications Manager
[email protected]
(514) 945-0309

Cooperation Canada Welcomes OECD-DAC Peer Review of Canada’s International Cooperation

Cooperation Canada Welcomes OECD-DAC Peer Review of Canada’s International Cooperation

by | Jun 4, 2025 | Civil Society, News, Statement

Cooperation Canada welcomes the release of the 2025 OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) peer review of Canada. The review provides an important assessment of Canada’s progress in advancing effective, inclusive and coherent international cooperation.

We are encouraged to see that many of the review’s findings and recommendations align with priorities consistently raised by Canadian civil society. In particular, the report calls for better coordination across diplomacy, trade and development to ensure consistent priorities and more joined-up action; stronger support for locally led development through more direct funding, capacity sharing and meaningful inclusion of local actors; and more consistent, transparent engagement with civil society organizations, including through improved consultation practices and greater clarity on how feedback is used.

The report also emphasizes the need to strengthen public engagement and improve how results are communicated to Canadians, recommending that Canada enhance its narrative around the impact of international assistance and increase transparency on project performance.

This review is a timely opportunity to reflect on Canada’s global role and recommit to ambitious, principled leadership.  

As the national coalition of international cooperation organizations, Cooperation Canada looks forward to working with Global Affairs Canada to: 

  • This review is a timely opportunity to reflect on Canada’s global role and recommit to ambitious, principled leadership.
  • As the national coalition of international cooperation organizations, Cooperation Canada looks forward to working with Global Affairs Canada to:
  • Act on key recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and quality of Canada’s international assistance
  • Strengthen coordination across government and implement whole-of-society approaches to global engagement
  • Improve transparency, predictability and accessibility in funding and partnerships
  • Advance public engagement and better communicate the results and impact of Canada’s global efforts—working alongside our network of over 100 members across the country

“We appreciate the meaningful engagement of civil society throughout the peer review process and thank Global Affairs Canada and the OECD-DAC for their openness to dialogue,” said Shannon Kindornay, Deputy CEO of Cooperation Canada. “We look forward to working together to advance efforts to align Canada’s trade, diplomacy and development efforts, enable more locally led approaches and engage people in Canada on the impact of Canada’s strategic and principled investments in international cooperation.”

Notes to Editors

  • Cooperation Canada is the national voice for Canadian international development and humanitarian organizations. Representing over 100 organizations, we convene, coordinate and advocate for effective, inclusive and accountable international cooperation that contributes to a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.
  • The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) conducts regular peer reviews of its member countries to assess the effectiveness, quality and impact of their international development cooperation. These reviews evaluate performance against DAC recommendations and international standards and provide guidance to improve future policies and practices. Peer reviews are conducted every five to six years.
  • Cooperation Canada coordinated civil society engagement throughout the peer review process and provided input on priorities for Canadian development and humanitarian policy. Since 1968, Cooperation Canada has brought together civil society organizations working globally to build a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.

Media Contact

Gabriel Karasz-Perriau, Senior Communications Manager
[email protected]
(514) 945-0309

Speech from the Throne

Speech from the Throne

by | May 29, 2025 | Global Leadership, News, Statement

Cooperation Canada welcomes commitments in the Speech from the Throne to build a coalition of like-minded countries that believe in international cooperation and for Canada to play a leading role in these efforts, starting with the G7 summit in June.  

This builds on measures put forward by the government which recognize that Canada’s sovereignty, security and prosperity are tied to global stability, as well as the mandate letter to Cabinet that calls for Canada to redefine its international, commercial and security relationships. 

While the Speech from the Throne remained silent on issues related to gender equality, international development and humanitarian action, we note previous commitments made by Prime Minister Carney and this government on these issues.  

As the national independent voice and coalition for international cooperation, Cooperation Canada therefore looks forward to engaging with this government to: 

  • Maintain and safeguard Official Development Assistance (ODA) and work towards strengthened partnerships and impact 
  • Protect and expand humanitarian assistance and immediately prioritize International Humanitarian Law 
  • Champion civic space and human rights in response to the rise of global authoritarianism 
  • Advance gender equality and leverage Canada’s global positioning and expertise for influence in an increasingly polarized global context 
  • Develop a coherent Canadian foreign policy which integrates international development 

The upcoming G7 Leaders’ Summit will provide an excellent opportunity for Canada to demonstrate leadership on these issues and to secure signature G7 investments in international assistance, drive action to address the global debt crisis and champion reform of the international financial architecture. 

Notes to Editors

  • Cooperation Canada is the national voice for Canadian international development and humanitarian organizations. Representing over 100 organizations, we convene, coordinate and advocate for effective, inclusive and accountable international cooperation that contributes to a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.

Media Contact

Gabriel Karasz-Perriau, Senior Communications Manager
[email protected]
(514) 945-0309

Cooperation Canada Statement on Gaza

Cooperation Canada Statement on Gaza

by | May 23, 2025 | Humanitarian, News, Statement

Gaza’s entire population is pushed to the brink—starved under relentless bombardment and repeated forced displacement. Mortality rates from hunger and disease have surged for both children and adults, driven by Israel’s 11-week siege that has cut off access to food, water, electricity and critical medical aid. A new report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warns that famine is now “increasingly likely” unless the siege is lifted and humanitarian access is urgently restored.

Over the past 19 months, the world has watched in horror as more than 53,000 Palestinians—most of them women and children—have been killed by armed violence in Gaza. This is not a natural disaster; it is a human-engineered catastrophe.

As the national voice for international cooperation, Cooperation Canada is calling on the Government of Canada to take swift, strong and unequivocal action to confront this escalating crisis.

Humanitarian Aid Must Not Be Weaponized

The crisis is deepening, with Israel’s proposal to militarize aid delivery. Turning humanitarian relief into a tool of control puts civilians at even greater risk, undermines the neutrality of aid work and threatens to plunge Gaza into further chaos. It endangers the very principles that make humanitarian action possible—and sets a dangerous global precedent.

Over 400 humanitarian workers have already lost their lives in Gaza. This must stop.

Words Must Now Become Action

We acknowledge and welcome the Canadian government’s recent statements denouncing the use of food as a weapon, along with its joint declarations with the UK and France affirming the need for independent, neutral humanitarian aid. These are vital signals of growing international resolve—but they cannot stand alone.

The military offensive in Gaza is not slowing down—it is accelerating. After 19 months of destruction, starvation and displacement, the time has come for Canada to take a clear and courageous stand in both word and deed—consistent with international law and mounting global pressure.

Our Call to Action

We urge the Government of Canada, with decisive action, to lead efforts to:

  • Increase pressure on all parties to the conflict to adhere to an immediate and definitive ceasefire to protect civilians, enable the safe and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as the release of hostages and unlawfully detained prisoners.
  • Seize Canada’s leading role on the world stage, including through the G7 and the upcoming June UN conference on the two-state solution, to increase pressure for a prompt resolution to the conflict and respect for international humanitarian law (IHL).
  • Clearly state that Canada will not provide any financial or other support to the newly proposed aid delivery mechanism.
  • Strongly oppose measures that violate the impartiality and independence of humanitarian operations, in particular the vetting of beneficiaries or staff. Experience shows that such vetting imposed by Israel has been used to arbitrarily deny access to individuals and organizations without due process or explanation.
  • Take concrete economic and diplomatic restrictive measures, starting with halting all arms exports to Israel (including through the United States), while encouraging allies to do the same.
  • Expand coalitions and collective statements with like-minded countries to firmly reject Israel’s immoral weaponization of aid as well as any plans to intensify military operations or displace the population.

Cooperation Canada stands in solidarity with the people of Gaza—and with all those around the world who are forced to endure inhumane conditions, unimaginable suffering and the denial of their most basic dignity.

Cooperation Canada Welcomes Anita Anand – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Randeep Sarai – Secretary of State for International Development

Cooperation Canada Welcomes Anita Anand – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Randeep Sarai – Secretary of State for International Development

by | May 13, 2025 | Finance, Global Leadership, News, Statement

Cooperation Canada congratulates Anita Anand on her appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs. We look forward to working with Minister Anand to advance Canada’s role in global cooperation, diplomacy and development. 

We also extend our congratulations to Randeep Sarai on his appointment as Secretary of State for International Development. His leadership will play an important role in driving Canada’s commitments for a more just world. 

With international development now positioned within the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ portfolio, we take note of the appointment of a dedicated Secretary of State to ensure sustained leadership and attention to Canada’s international development efforts. 

Cooperation Canada and our members are committed to collaborating with both Minister Anand and Secretary of State Sarai to ensure that international development remains a key priority for Canada and reflects the needs of our global partners. 

Together with over 65 Canadian international development and humanitarian partners, Cooperation Canada welcomes the government’s commitment to international cooperation and a strengthened role for Canada on the world stage. We look forward to working with the government to help shape a coherent and future-oriented foreign policy – one that leverages international development as a key pillar of Canada’s global engagement alongside diplomacy, defence and trade. 

The government’s commitment to maintaining — at a minimum — current levels of international humanitarian assistance and official development assistance is an essential step. These investments are critical for saving lives, protecting civilians and contributing to rebuilding a rules-based international order. They are also fundamental to advancing Canada’s leadership on gender equality, climate change, human rights, peace and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The current global landscape is marked by both profound instability and significant opportunity. In this context, Canada cannot afford to retreat from global cooperation. Rising humanitarian needs driven by conflict, climate-related disasters and economic volatility demand urgent attention. Simultaneously, fundamental rights — including gender equality, democracy and civic space — are under threat in many parts of the world. Yet, through strategic international partnerships, Canada has the opportunity to foster economic growth, strengthen alliances and contribute to preventing future crises. 

“At a time when many are retreating from international cooperation – and as Canada leads the G7 – we have a unique opportunity to lead with principle and purpose,” said Kate Higgins, CEO of Cooperation Canada. “Cooperation Canada looks forward to working with Minister Anand, Secretary of State Sarai, and the government — together with our members and partners in Canada and globally — to advance values-driven and effective international cooperation. Our shared goal is to support the resilience and needs of the most vulnerable communities, maximize impact, leverage expertise and help shape a better future,” she said.