Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, unveiled $272.1 million in latest funding on Sunday for foreign aid projects in Bangladesh and the Indo-Pacific region.
“Canada continues to fiercely strengthen our long-lasting friendship with Bangladesh and the broader Indo-Pacific region with our long-standing people-to-people ties,” Hussen said in an announcement. “By supporting vulnerable communities’ healthcare services, empowering women and addressing climate change, we’re making a brighter tomorrow for the worldwide community.”
The cash, to be spent alongside contributions from other foreign partners and donors, will provide latest funding for 14 different projects in Bangladesh and other countries within the Indo-Pacific region.
The federal Liberal government’s move highlights a dramatically different Canadian approach to foreign development assistance in comparison with American Republican President Donald Trump’s government, which halted funding through america Agency for International Development (USAID).
Trump and his latest government efficiency czar, businessman Elon Musk, froze U.S. foreign aid for 90 days after he took power, shutting down aid programs around the globe and triggering furloughs of hundreds of employees inside the federal government and amongst its contractors.
Trump and his Republican appointees view foreign aid programs as a waste of taxpayers’ money, arguing they support liberal political agendas. Their detractors say such spending boosts American standing on this planet, and counters foreign interference by other countries.
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American foreign aid employees and supporters have challenged Trump’s moves in court, saying the president exceeded his legal and constitutional authority when he effectively dismantled a federal agency whose spending was authorized by the U.S. Congress.
Details about the various, multi-year projects Canada is funding might be present in this backgrounder from Global Affairs Canada.
Canada is supporting projects that can deal with gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights for girls and girls, together with improved access to inclusive education and skills training.
Other projects are designed to assist communities strengthen their resilience to climate change, boost civic engagement and reduce poverty.
One project was described as “Empowering Women within the Nursing Sector.” It features a $6.3 million funding boost over three years to Canadian company Cowater International, the federal government stated.
The Canadian government aid was personally announced by Hessen and British Columbia Liberal Member of Parliament Parm Bains at a Vancouver event attended by leaders of the Bangladeshi community, just weeks before the Liberal government could call a spring election with a brand new leader.
The Bangladeshi-Canadian community now includes greater than 100,000 people, the federal government estimates.
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