Trudeau under pressure at New York event
(New York) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced pointed questions about his government's cuts to foreign aid spending Thursday at a conference in New York at which he hoped to show himself as an international agent of change.
Trudeau's appearance at Global Citizen Now, a gathering of world leaders, celebrities and activists focused on promoting sustainable development internationally, was intended to be a platform to showcase new federal funding to advance women's rights.
But host and former CTV anchor Lisa LaFlamme has repeatedly asked the prime minister about her government's latest federal budget, which reflects an overall reduction in development assistance spending of about 15 per cent.
"That's $1.3 billion that has just disappeared from the organizations that depend so heavily on it," saidMs.
LaFlamme. How, first of all, do you justify this? »
Prior to 2019, the Liberal government committed to steadily increasing humanitarian assistance each year,
"and we have," Trudeau said.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year and other crises around the world, including in Afghanistan, have resulted in outsized one-time spending, he said.
It is likely that there will be more humanitarian disasters before the end of the fiscal year that will force Canada to make additional commitments, but "the baseline continues to increase," Trudeau said.
"We have increased it massively because of the pandemic, because of various crises that we have had to respond to," he said.
We will continue — as Canada always will — to be there (for) one-off crises... We will continue to be there because we are committed to providing international assistance focused on empowering women and girls.
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Canadian Funding for Women's RightsFrom there, Mr. Trudeau followed up with what he had come to talk about in New York: an investment of $195 million over five years — plus $43 million each year thereafter — in defending women's rights around the world.
He said the program, Women's Voice and Leadership, has helped more than 1500 organizations since its launch in 2017. This far exceeded the initial target of 400 groups, which receive unconditional assistance.
"We know that these types of initiatives — advocating for women's rights from this grassroots, women-led community level impacting other women — is one of the most powerful ways to effect change," said the Prime Minister.
New Democratic Party (NDP) critic for status of women and gender equality Leah Gazan on Thursday issued a missive rebuking Trudeau for cutting funding for women's shelters in Canada.
Trudeau's appearance at Global Citizen Now, a gathering of world leaders, celebrities and activists focused on promoting sustainable development internationally, was intended to be a platform to showcase new federal funding to advance women's rights.
But host and former CTV anchor Lisa LaFlamme has repeatedly asked the prime minister about her government's latest federal budget, which reflects an overall reduction in development assistance spending of about 15 per cent.
"That's $1.3 billion that has just disappeared from the organizations that depend so heavily on it," saidMs.
LaFlamme. How, first of all, do you justify this? »
Prior to 2019, the Liberal government committed to steadily increasing humanitarian assistance each year,
"and we have," Trudeau said.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year and other crises around the world, including in Afghanistan, have resulted in outsized one-time spending, he said.
It is likely that there will be more humanitarian disasters before the end of the fiscal year that will force Canada to make additional commitments, but "the baseline continues to increase," Trudeau said.
"We have increased it massively because of the pandemic, because of various crises that we have had to respond to," he said.
We will continue — as Canada always will — to be there (for) one-off crises... We will continue to be there because we are committed to providing international assistance focused on empowering women and girls.
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Canadian Funding for Women's RightsFrom there, Mr. Trudeau followed up with what he had come to talk about in New York: an investment of $195 million over five years — plus $43 million each year thereafter — in defending women's rights around the world.
He said the program, Women's Voice and Leadership, has helped more than 1500 organizations since its launch in 2017. This far exceeded the initial target of 400 groups, which receive unconditional assistance.
"We know that these types of initiatives — advocating for women's rights from this grassroots, women-led community level impacting other women — is one of the most powerful ways to effect change," said the Prime Minister.
New Democratic Party (NDP) critic for status of women and gender equality Leah Gazan on Thursday issued a missive rebuking Trudeau for cutting funding for women's shelters in Canada.
"He has a moral obligation to support women internationally and here in Canada. He has to do both,"said Gazan, who accused the government of cutting funding by $150 million.
"A true feminist government would never turn its back on any woman, whether in Canada or around the world, during such a critical time of need," she added.
Eventually, the conversation in New York turned to abortion rights, which have been under legal siege in recent months in the U.S. — a chance for Trudeau to mark a contrast between his Liberals and opposition Conservatives.
Trudeau began his first full day in the city with a visit to the UN, where he met briefly with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley to talk about one of their shared passions: advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in the Global South.
The two leaders also hosted a meeting of the UN committee that they co-chair together: SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Advocates, a group of international activists and experts focusing on a list of ambitious Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Resolutely "pro-choice"International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan used Thursday's announcement to pit the Liberals and Conservatives against each other. "When it comes to women's rights, our government is decidedly pro-choice," he said at a news conference on Parliament Hill.
"A true feminist government would never turn its back on any woman, whether in Canada or around the world, during such a critical time of need," she added.
Eventually, the conversation in New York turned to abortion rights, which have been under legal siege in recent months in the U.S. — a chance for Trudeau to mark a contrast between his Liberals and opposition Conservatives.
Trudeau began his first full day in the city with a visit to the UN, where he met briefly with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley to talk about one of their shared passions: advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in the Global South.
The two leaders also hosted a meeting of the UN committee that they co-chair together: SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Advocates, a group of international activists and experts focusing on a list of ambitious Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Resolutely "pro-choice"International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan used Thursday's announcement to pit the Liberals and Conservatives against each other. "When it comes to women's rights, our government is decidedly pro-choice," he said at a news conference on Parliament Hill.
The Conservatives continue to look for ways to reopen the debate on abortion access, and unlike them,
we will never remain silent on these issues.
Harjit Sajjan, Minister of International Development
Abortion rights have long been a political lightning rod in both countries, but the debate gained momentum in the U.S. last year when the Supreme Court struck down the landmark 1973 abortion rights decision, Roe v. Wade.
The Conservatives' position on abortion in Canada has never been fully aligned with that of their Republican counterparts south of the border, but opponents of abortion are a strong voice within the party's base. On the other hand, Chief Pierre Poilievre described himself as pro-choice.
Critical mineralsTrudeau's trip to New York will also focus on trade in critical minerals.
Experts on both sides of the border hope to learn more about how Ottawa plans to rapidly develop its critical minerals sector.
Former diplomat Louise Blais, now a senior advisor to the Business Council of Canada, says it's time to detail the plan to bring these21st century riches out of the ground.
Trudeau aims to build on the momentum of what most observers see as President Joe Biden's successful and productive visit to Ottawa last month.
we will never remain silent on these issues.
Harjit Sajjan, Minister of International Development
Abortion rights have long been a political lightning rod in both countries, but the debate gained momentum in the U.S. last year when the Supreme Court struck down the landmark 1973 abortion rights decision, Roe v. Wade.
The Conservatives' position on abortion in Canada has never been fully aligned with that of their Republican counterparts south of the border, but opponents of abortion are a strong voice within the party's base. On the other hand, Chief Pierre Poilievre described himself as pro-choice.
Critical mineralsTrudeau's trip to New York will also focus on trade in critical minerals.
Experts on both sides of the border hope to learn more about how Ottawa plans to rapidly develop its critical minerals sector.
Former diplomat Louise Blais, now a senior advisor to the Business Council of Canada, says it's time to detail the plan to bring these21st century riches out of the ground.
Trudeau aims to build on the momentum of what most observers see as President Joe Biden's successful and productive visit to Ottawa last month.
