Ottawa's foreign aid chief eyes red tape, visibility as Canada resists cutbacks
OTTAWA — The MP overseeing foreign aid says Canada must take a more efficient, more visible approach to development and humanitarian assistance to make the case for maintaining aid spending as the United States pulls back.
'Those that are staying the course need to be more nimble and need to be more versatile,' said Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, in his first major interview since taking on the role.
Sarai said his top priorities in the job are to ensure Canadian aid dollars are being spent efficiently and to give Canadians and aid recipients a better idea of where the money goes.
'It doesn't mean that a sack of grain needs to have a Maple Leaf on it,' he said. While branding can play a role, Sarai said, the government can also spread its message through social media, outreach campaigns in recipient countries and possibly through provincial government-approved textbooks.
'Canadians would be happier, and I think those recipients would have a better value and respect and admiration for Canada and its aid,' he said. 'So that's definitely a priority.'
Sarai said Canadians should know how their aid dollars work to, for example, flood-proof areas prone to natural disasters or provide farmers with climate-resilient crops.
'A potato seed that comes from Prince Edward Island to a remote part of the Philippines can take a family from barely sustaining themselves to being able to not only feed themselves but also put their children through education,' he said.
Sarai worked as a lawyer in Surrey, B.C. before running for federal office in the 2015 election, when the Liberals under Justin Trudeau won a majority government. He became parliamentary secretary for veterans affairs in fall 2023.
While his current role falls short of a full ministerial portfolio, it puts him in charge of overseeing Canada's aid budget and allows him to participate in some cabinet meetings.
Ottawa spent $12 billion on foreign aid in the fiscal year that ended in spring 2024, the latest year fully reported by Global Affairs Canada.
Half of that was core foreign aid spending, while $2.6 billion was for loans and development financing, mostly for Ukraine. Another $2.6 billion went to services for refugees arriving in Canada, while the rest largely went to global projects such as United Nations humanitarian appeals and preventive health projects.
Sarai said knocking on doors during the spring election campaign convinced him that few Canadians know where their aid dollars are going.
'That's what my priority is — how can I communicate and share that. And how can I get the best bang for your buck, the most efficient way to get our aid to those that are most in need,' he said.
Sarai said Prime Minister Mark Carney told him 'to cut some red tape' and proceed with Global Affairs Canada's ongoing reform of the bureaucracy it uses to fund development and humanitarian projects.
Charities have long claimed that Canada's aid system is more cumbersome than those of its peers, with copious paperwork requirements that delay grants and freeze out smaller aid groups.
The department has said it's trying to give clearer guidance so that it can keep preventing aid from being misused while allowing Canadian organizations to expand their reach by partnering with smaller, grassroots groups.
Aid groups have criticized Ottawa for drastically cutting back on development work in Afghanistan since the Taliban retook the country in August 2021.
Several of Canada's allies have issued blanket exemptions to terrorism-financing rules to allow development workers to pay local staff without being accused of funding terrorism through the Taliban's taxes on salaries.
Ottawa has instead opted for a complex permitting system that has been widely criticized.
Sarai said the broader reforms his department is undertaking will ensure Canadian organizations can access the funding Ottawa allocates for projects abroad.
Canadian non-profits have been bracing for worse since the United States started slashing its aid budget.
On behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk placed thousands of staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development on paid leave and froze payments and shipments of aid around the world.
Canadian non-profits say that many of their projects ran off systems operated by USAID or UN agencies that relied on significant U.S. funding.
The aid sector has been further demoralized by the outcome of the recent G7 summit, which Canada hosted. World leaders at the summit made no major joint spending commitment to help populations facing conflict and hunger in places like Sudan, Myanmar and the Palestinian territories.
Canada promised at the G7 to spend $391.3 million 'to catalyze private capital toward economic growth and development projects around the world.' Ottawa hasn't said yet where and when the funding will be used.
The federal government also said it earmarked 'up to $544 million' in loans for 'new development financing in Latin America and the Caribbean.'
During the spring election, Carney said he would not follow the example of the U.S. or some European countries by cutting back aid. He said Canada's approach is 'to be generous and to be effective in our support of those who are most vulnerable around the world.'
Sarai said Carney's decision to maintain aid recognizes that diseases don't respect borders, that hunger and poverty lead to waves of to refugees, and that countries receiving Canadian aid are more open to Canadian trade.
He said Carney's message is likely that Canadian aid needs 'to be more nimble, be more creative, so we can do more with the same amount of dollars.' The government still hasn't released a budget indicating whether the flow of aid will remain steady or see an increase or decrease.
Sarai is in Brussels this week for a pledging summit with GAVI, the global vaccine alliance. Ottawa did not announce new funding for the alliance at the summit. He then heads to Spain for a UN conference on development financing with private and civil society.
He expects to take part next month in the G20 meeting of development ministers in South Africa, and possibly a summit in the Solomon Islands focused on adaptation to climate change.
Sarai said his talks with ambassadors in Ottawa and visiting dignitaries have left him surprised at the depth and scope of Canada's international reputation for multilateralism.
'The world still sees Canada as in a very good light. We don't have a history that is colonializing other countries,' he said.
'We have played important roles before, and we should continue to to play those roles.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025.
Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
35 minutes ago
- CBC
Teacher unions weigh in on public board turmoil as new school year approaches
Social Sharing Following a tumultuous summer for London's largest school board, local teacher unions weighed in on some recent local developments as the new school year approaches. With the upcoming year already affected by budget cuts, teachers and education workers are busy preparing their classrooms for incoming students, said Michael Thomas, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario's (ETFO) Thames Valley branch. "Their creativity, resilience, and dedication are what make me optimistic about the year ahead," he said. The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) has been undergoing major restructuring after the province took control of the board in April, punting locally-elected officials out of the decision-making process and appointing lawyer Paul Bonifero as a supervisor to clean up financial mismanagement and a budget deficit of more than $30 million. Roughly 115 staff positions have been cut, with around 47 being teachers, library and guidance staff, and learning support. The board also recently announced it will allow unqualified education students to be added to supply teacher lists, which are typically filled with experienced retirees. 'Inappropriate measures' continue to be necessary. The board seeking not-yet-qualified first- and second-year education students to join the supply lists speaks to how deep staffing challenges in education have become, Thomas said. In Ontario, there are 40,000 certified teachers who are not currently working in education, he said, adding that this begs the question: Why are so many qualified professionals choosing not to enter or remain in the classroom? Unsustainable workloads, increasing class sizes and lack of support are all contributing factors, he said. "Until those systemic issues are addressed, inappropriate measures like relying on student teachers will continue to be necessary." For secondary schools, student teachers will only be accepted to teach subjects with a shortage of qualified teachers, said John Bernans, local branch president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation. This could include courses on native languages or technology. "By and large, I don't think that there's much impact on our retirees. They're trying to fill some areas of need." Schools stretched thin amid budget cuts. When funding does not match student needs, school boards need to make difficult decisions, Thomas said. This can mean fewer teachers and education workers, larger classes and less specialized programming, all of which directly impacts students most directly, he said. According to data from ETFO, 95 per cent of schools require more mental health support, and 77 per cent of ETFO members have personally experienced violence at school or witnessed it against another staff member. "Cuts to funding have compounded annually since 2019, leaving schools stretched thinner and families concerned about the level of support their children receive." Union officials will be watching closely as under-funding creates larger gaps in student support, he said. In secondary schools, staffing cuts are largely affecting areas such as learning support, guidance and libraries —positions that help to support important areas like special education and student mental health, as well as technology and extra curricular activities. The absence of these supports will be especially felt by low-income families, Bernans said. "I think we can anticipate worsening problems with violence in schools and dysregulated students," he said. "That's been an ongoing issue and I don't think it's going to get any better given the cuts that have had to be implemented in order to try to balance the budget." This is not limited to TVDSB, Bernans added, pointing out that 40 per cent of school boards in the province are in a deficit. Still, it's a fundamental problem that will start having a bigger impact on students, he said. Teachers still optimistic, unions say. Despite ongoing and anticipated issues, both elementary and secondary teachers are looking forward to the start of the new year, both union heads said. TVDSB is dedicated to helping find solutions to budget constraints, Thomas said, adding that the ETFO will be working closely with the board to ensure teachers' and students' needs are being met. OSSTF members are also feeling optimistic, Bernans said, working with the board to place a greater emphasis on teachers' professional judgment and fostering increased expectations for students. "We are hopeful that we'll make some ground there and improve things that way," Bernans said.
Globe and Mail
42 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
How the Air Canada strike tested Canada's labour laws
A national strike by Air Canada flight attendants ended on Tuesday morning, three days after it began. One of the key issues that Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees were fighting over was "ground pay," the amount flight attendants are paid for their work before takeoff and after landing. Jason Kirby is a business reporter for The Globe and Mail. He's on the show to talk about what we know about the deal so far, and what impact this strike could have on future labour disputes. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@
CBC
43 minutes ago
- CBC
'It's an eyesore': Residents slam delayed demolition of former motels near Canso Causeway
Social Sharing Two former motels on opposite sides of the Port Hastings rotary are providing a less-than-welcoming backdrop for Cape Breton visitors and local residents alike. The Causeway Inn, located just above the rotary, and the Skye Lodge, on Highway 4 just outside it, were purchased in 2021 by entrepreneur James Cha, who intended to reopen both buildings in 2023. Earlier this year, Cha sold the buildings to Nova Scotia Public Works, which plans to demolish them as it prepares to open a new roundabout in Port Hastings. But two months after the sale, Port Hastings residents and the local fire chief are complaining about rodents, vandalism and trespassing concerns that have arisen while the province navigates the tendering process for demolishing the buildings. A number of residents got a look inside the former Causeway Inn as Cha was planning to hand over ownership to the province this spring. Residents decry rats while tourists bemoan decrepit building John and Maggie Fraser, who live up the hill on Old Victoria Road, say the building was not cleared of its beds or linens, lamps, clock radios, or supplies for its lounge and kitchen. Peanut butter and jam were among the foods left in the kitchen, which the Frasers and others blame for the appearance of rats along Old Victoria Road over the summer. "The motel looks as if somebody walked out of it yesterday," said John Fraser. "The back door has been broken out and the top windows have been smashed out. So people have been going into that motel." The inn's decrepit exterior is also an issue for local business owners. Wendy Larder worked at the building when it operated as a Keddy's Motor Inn three decades ago. She now runs Wendy's AirBnB on Old Victoria Road, and her tenants usually give her a high rating, with the exception of the view just outside the back window. "It is a question for each guest: 'Why is [the motel] not functioning? Why is it there? It's an eyesore,'" said Larder, who said neighbours have also spotted rats on nearby roads. 'It's gotta come down': fire chief Crews boarded up the doors and windows of the former Skye Lodge shortly after Nova Scotia Public Works purchased the property. But the community's volunteer fire chief, James Kavanaugh, feels that incidents of vandalism, trespassing and small fires over the past six months could become larger issues if the province continues to delay its plan to level the building. "It's scary. There were burnt candles on the inside, there were burnt chairs outside, there was a table there that was burned five feet from the [motel], there were windows taken out," Kavanaugh said. "I think we're going to be dealing with a major fire there one night." The chief warned that a blaze at either motel could require the lengthy shutdown of nearby highways, creating traffic snarls that would affect local residents and visitors to Cape Breton, including those bound for the North Sydney ferry terminal. Port Hastings firefighters and local residents are concerned that the measures taken by public works employees will not keep trespassers out. "I don't think there's a room in the building that hasn't been vandalized — mirrors smashed, TVs smashed, windows broken, stuff burned," Kavanaugh said. "There's only one solution for that building — it's gotta come down." Province says tendering will determine demolition timeline In a statement to CBC, public works spokesman Toby Koffman did not provide a target date for the former motels to come down, saying that "the outcome of the tenders will determine the timeline." The department is in the design phase for the Port Hastings roundabout, which was originally slated to be completed by the end of 2025. Last week, Koffman said "work remains on schedule" and the project is now expected to wrap up before the end of 2028. But the lingering presence of the abandoned buildings and the resulting issues have soured residents like John Fraser, who did not see rats or unsightly premises in his future when he and his wife moved to the community in 2017. "It's an absolute disgrace coming across the Canso Causeway and the first thing you see is two decrepit hotels," Fraser said.
