FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Canadian Council for International Co-operation welcomes federal investment of $159.5 million to support global fight against COVID-19
OTTAWA, ON, April 5, 2020 – The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) applauds today’s federal government announcement of an allocation of $159.5 million in funding to support global efforts to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and its impacts on the world’s most vulnerable people.
Today’s announcement includes a previous commitment to provide $50 million to international assistance to the World Health Organization and other partners in response to the novel coronavirus. It is part of the government’s $107 billion investment to fight the pandemic both at home and abroad. As Canada rightly continues to prioritize the safety of Canadians, CCIC and its members encourage the federal government to contribute significantly and proportionally to a global pandemic response. Canada’s continued investment in international assistance during this time will help those most vulnerable to the impact of the virus—those living in poor countries with weak public health systems—while also helping to prevent its further spread and entrenchment.
“This virus knows no borders,” said Nicolas Moyer, CEO of CCIC. “To effectively respond to this global pandemic, we need a global approach. Canada’s commitments today will enable and equip partners to support the world’s most vulnerable people so that every family is protected in this crisis and nobody is left behind.”
Today’s enhanced commitment acknowledges that the response to this global pandemic will require global solutions. Canadian international development and humanitarian workers are on the front lines of prevention and response to COVID-19. Their brave work – supported by Canadian investments like the one announced today – protects vulnerable populations in developing countries as well as Canadians at home and around the world. Canada’s development and humanitarian workers are helping ensure that a potential second wave of this pandemic is stopped before it starts, and this money will help our neighbours as well as keep Canadians safe. This investment will help Canadian assistance and health workers do their vital jobs around the world.
CCIC member organizations are active around the globe aiding communities at risk in this pandemic. CCIC and its members look forward to continuing to work with the federal government to support global efforts to address and contain COVID-19.
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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.
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