A $10-trillion mistake the world can no longer afford: ignoring girls' education costs us all
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Disease. Malnutrition. Conflict. Child marriage. $10 trillion.
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These are just some of the costs we pay when girls are denied a basic right to education.
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With 122 million girls currently out of school around the world, it is more important now than ever for the G7 leaders to address education inequality at the upcoming G7 Leaders' Summit.
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Supporting girls' education is one of smartest investments we can make in our shared global future, directly addressing some of our largest international challenges. But education remains chronically underfunded and deprioritized at a time when the world simply cannot afford it.
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Among the issues the G7 leaders will discuss this month in Kananaskis are international peace and security, economic stability and growth. The research is clear, the evidence is abundant, backed by no less than the World Bank, World Economic Forum and UNESCO: educating girls is consistently shown to improve these very issues.
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International peace and security? Countries with higher rates of girls' education experience correlated decreases in 'violent conflict at the global level' by a 'substantial' amount.
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Economic stability and growth? According to the UN's 2024 Gender Snapshot, the world could unlock $10 trillion in economic gains every single year — simply by closing the gender gap in education. Each additional year of school can increase a girl's future earnings by up to 25 per cent.
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Health? Educated women raise healthier families. Infant mortality could be cut in half if all women had a secondary education.
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Ultimately, investing in girls' education doesn't just change lives, it transforms societies. In countries where girls are educated, we see a reduced reliance on foreign aid, a decreased need for military intervention and a decrease in the spread of disease. Investments in education today will scale up to global peace, economic stability and prosperity, creating exponentially better outcomes for everyone.
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The G7 nations control almost one-third of global GDP, but education receives barely five per cent of global development funding. This must change. Areas where girls can't access school see higher rates of child marriage, substantially more violent conflict and increased spread of disease.
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Things only get worse in a crisis — whether from conflict, displacement or climate emergencies. When disaster strikes, education is often the first thing to go and, for girls, the stakes are even higher. Girls are the first to be pulled out of school, the last to be fed, and the most vulnerable to exploitation and violence by armed groups.
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Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Toronto Star
As Trump heads to the G7, Canada hopes to avoid another Charlevoix-style eruption
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He left early and lambasted Trudeau as 'very dishonest and weak' in a spat over tariffs. The summit included what Miller called the 'photograph for the ages' — of then German chancellor Angela Merkel and others standing sternly over a seated Donald Trump, who appeared to be glaring back with crossed arms. German Ambassador to Canada Matthias Lüttenberg put it bluntly when he told a June 4 panel that Ottawa was again navigating 'very difficult circumstances' as G7 chair — and capably, in his view. 'I mean, I wouldn't like to negotiate with a country at the table who's questioning my sovereignty as a state,' he said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Sen. Peter Boehm, who was summit head in 2018, recalled two late nights of negotiations because the Trump administration didn't align with the others on including climate change or references to the 'rules-based international order.' Informal talks Prime Minister Mark Carney won office in April after repeatedly saying he could stand up to Trump's threats to ruin the Canadian economy in order to make the country an American state. Carney had a cordial visit to Washington in early May and even got praise from Trump on social media and in person, despite the president insisting Canada should still become a U.S. state. The two have continued talking. U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra revealed earlier this month that the president and Carney have exchanged frequent calls and texts on trade and tariffs. Miller said facetime between the two leaders in Alberta could help them make progress on economic concerns, as well as Trump's pitch to bring Canada into his proposed Golden Dome missile shield project. 'Given that there is this conversation underway, it is important that they have an opportunity to continue that, and to meet perhaps in a setting that is less structured and formal than the Oval Office,' Miller said. 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It's also entirely possible that Trump will leave before the meetings conclude. A visiting felon Keeping it positive is also likely why Ottawa will skirt rules that might bar Trump from crossing into Canada after he was found guilty on 34 criminal counts in a 'hush money' trial in May 2024. Immigration lawyers say those convicted of serious crimes abroad must serve their time and wait five years before seeking a certificate of admissibility to Canada, though there are loopholes if someone seeks a visa for a compelling reason. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The federal cabinet passed a formal order published in February that gives diplomatic immunity and privileges to 'representatives of a foreign state that participate in the G7 meetings.' The office of Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab would not say whether she had issued a special exemption, with her department citing privacy legislation. 'Inadmissibility decisions are made on a case-by-case basis,' spokesman Remi Lariviere wrote. Fore! Another way Canada could ensure a successful visit could be to get Trump to the Kananaskis Country Golf Course — a prospect much discussed in media reports that remained unconfirmed as of Friday afternoon. Carney gave Trump a hat and golf gear from that course during his visit to the Oval Office in May. Miller said that wasn't just a gimmick — Trump loves making deals while teeing off, and it could provide Carney or others with hours of facetime on a golf cart, which is Trump's comfort zone. 'Golf has been pretty central to his life,' he said. 'It makes eminent sense to have Mr. Trump playing at a high-quality golf course.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
Ottawa Citizen
2 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Multiple Ottawa protests against Modi, Trump and arms for Israel
Article content Thousands of people attended protests across Ottawa on Saturday as Canada geared up for the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta. Article content World leaders are gather in the Rocky Mountains from June 15 to 17 to discuss geopolitical and economic issues. Among them is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who Prime Minister Mark Carney invited to the summit as a guest even though India is not one of the G7 countries. Article content Article content Article content Article content Modi's attendance at the G7 has sparked anger in Canada's Sikh community. Many were warned by police that their lives were at risk and have alleged for years that the Indian government is behind those threats. The RCMP also put out a statement last October linking India's government with 'serious criminal activity' in Canada, saying that activity posed a 'serious threat' to public safety. Article content Hundreds of Sikhs gathered on Parliament Hill on Saturday to protest against Modi's G7 attendance and Carney's invitation. Many wore brightly coloured turbans and carried kirpans, the ceremonial daggers or knives worn by initiated (Amritdhari) Sikhs. Some waved yellow pro-Khalistan flags, a symbol of the Sikh separatist movement primarily in the Indian state of Punjab. Article content The protest came two days after Global News reported that an Indian agent had former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh under close surveillance, prompting the RCMP to place Singh in police protection 18 months ago. Article content Article content Balpreet Singh, legal counsel and spokesperson for the World Sikh Federation of Canada, said Carney's invitation felt like a betrayal. Article content 'If there's a foreign government trying to kill your political leaders, you would think they wouldn't be welcome in your country, but it seems Prime Minister Carney thinks otherwise,' he told the Ottawa Citizen. Article content 'There's over a dozen Sikhs that are living with duties to warn, which means there are imminent threats to their lives from the Government of India … They can't be around their families, they can't be in public spaces. They have to change the way they live their lives, and this is just the past couple of years.' Article content Moninder Singh, another spokesperson for the World Sikh Federation of Canada, said Modi's attendance constituted a threat to Canada's sovereignty. Article content Top Canadian security officials have previously warned that India, China and Russia would try to illegally influence the 2025 federal election. The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections task force said India would use its network of allies and proxies to 'assert its geopolitical influence' and meddle in democratic processes.
Calgary Herald
3 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Premier Danielle Smith seizing opportunity to advance Alberta's energy agenda during G7 summit
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