OTTAWA—Budget 2026 is largely silent on issues of international development cooperation and humanitarian action, leaving in place the $2.7 billion cuts over four years announced in 2025. 

This highlights the critical importance of Canada’s forthcoming foreign policy, which presents an opportunity to affirm international development cooperation as essential to strengthening Canada’s sovereignty, resilience and international partnerships in an increasingly uncertain world. Cooperation Canada and its members look forward to working with the government to ensure that development cooperation is central to advancing Canada’s interests, and building a more peaceful, stable and prosperous world. 

At less than one-third of one per cent of our national income, international assistance is a modest but vital investment. It saves lives, advances human rights and gender equality, tackles climate change, and supports communities on the front lines of poverty and crisis. It also builds the diverse partnerships, trust and stability that underpin Canada’s own security and prosperity. 

The stakes are high. From conflict and displacement in Sudan to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, people face devastating threats to their lives and livelihoods. As major donors scale back assistance, communities are losing access to essential services and opportunities to build more secure futures. These reductions put hard-won development gains at risk and weaken the capacity to prevent and respond to future crises. 

International development cooperation addresses challenges that defence, diplomacy and economic policy alone cannot resolve. Investing in prevention and resilience saves lives, strengthens collective security and reduces the costs of future crises. At a time of growing global instability, Canada must draw on the full range of its tools of statecraft and match its international ambitions with sustained investment. 

“Canada’s influence comes from showing up and following through. Our budget choices must match our international ambitions, and the government must be transparent about its funding commitments,” said Kate Higgins, Chief Executive Officer of Cooperation Canada. “As Canada redefines its place in the world, international development cooperation must be central to its foreign policy. We look forward to working with the government to ensure it has the recognition and resources needed to advance Canada’s interests, uphold human rights and build a more peaceful and prosperous world.”