On April 3, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated, "my government will not cut foreign aid." Just seven months later, his first budget broke that promise.
Here are the top three things you need to know:
There’s a lack of transparency, but it looks like there is a $2.7B cut to foreign aid
Investments in global health are being targeted for cuts, despite the fact they are the most effective investments
The budget talks about trade diversification but does not mention the region...
Elise Legault
An Opportunity to Spark Growth and Economic Transformation in Africa
As geopolitics shifts and global trade tensions rise, Canada’s G7 Presidency is a unique opportunity for Canada to make its mark on the global stage, deliver a boost to the global economy and revive international cooperation. The current international financial architecture holds back Global South countries, especially those on the African continent, who are walking a financial tightrope, with cuts to foreign aid, more expensive debt, lack of access to...
With global trade shifting and Canada seeking to diversify beyond traditional partners, there is one region still flying under the radar: Africa. That needs to change.
While others are already moving, Canada is lagging behind. The European Union more than doubled its imports from Africa between 2005 and 2025. China increased its imports fivefold over the same period. But Canada? We remain stuck, with Africa accounting for just 1 percent of our exports and under 2 percent of our imports.
This...
After years of anticipation, Minister Melanie Joly finally unveiled her long-awaited Canada-Africa Strategy: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity and Security. This landmark document sets out a vision for strengthening Canadian economic, diplomatic, and security ties with Africa. Framed around five pillars, the strategy aims to:
Deepen diplomatic engagement
Expand economic cooperation
Tackle poverty and drive sustainable development
Strengthen peace and security partnerships
Advance shared global priorities
It’s a step forward, but does it go far enough? Let’s dive in!
A Strategy Long Overdue
For decades, Canada’s approach...
On October 3rd, ONE Canada partnered with Afrifursa, the Black Founders Network, and Grand Challenges Canada to an inspiring VIP reception at the University of Toronto's Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus. This special gathering was part of Afrifursa’s Afri Tech Summit and brought together over 115 tech entrepreneurs, visionaries, and changemakers passionate about shaping the future of innovation in Africa.
The energy in the room was palpable as the event kicked off with a dynamic panel discussion, moderated by Elise Legault,...
Guess what? The Canadian Federal Budget has just dropped. So, let's talk about the scoop on Official Development Assistance (ODA) – since it's not half bad!
Here's the lowdown: International Assistance gets a bump of around 5% compared to last year's budget. The standout addition? An extra $350 million over 2 years for humanitarian aid – talk about a much-needed boost, especially with all the crises happening in Gaza, Haiti, Sudan, and Ukraine. Now, here's the kicker: this 5% boost...
This week’s G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting take place as warning signs are flashing red. Economic woes are deepening and shocks are overwhelming countries throughout the world.
Those with the least capacity to weather shocks are feeling this most acutely: they are trading off heating for eating or struggling through yet another hunger crisis.
Yet, leadership and a coherent response plan are missing in action.
We have the tools to respond and mitigate the worst of these overlapping crises,...
This weekend the world’s most powerful global leaders will convene in Germany for yet another meeting of the G7, facing a convergence of crises that have only worsened over the last year and are putting hundreds of millions of lives at risk.
And last Friday, ONE Canada was in front of Parliament Hill to tell Prime Minister Trudeau that we want him to go to the G7 Summit with a real plan to tackle these converging crises. Getting out of...
Why Canada should channel its SDRs to developing countries
Imagine you and your sister are both going through the same economic crisis, but with very different means. You both lost your jobs, but you already paid off your mortgage and have savings in the bank. Your sister is a single mom with three kids and unpaid student debt. The bank is willing to give you a loan, but not your sister because she is less wealthy and her finances are...
After 36 days of campaigning and 16 million votes, the Government of Canada looks essentially identical to the previous one. Now, it is time to get back to work. The world is still facing a significant crisis: the global pandemic.
Despite parliament not changing from when it was dissolved a little over a month ago, we lost five weeks of government action in one critical area: putting an end to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
But there is a key moment tomorrow,...