LETTER: Support for developing countries creates new trade markets for Canada

‘Investing in foreign aid isn’t merely an altruistic obligation. It’s a smart strategy that benefits one’s domestic prosperity,’ writer says

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Canadians have long been regarded as champions of global engagement, and recent events have reaffirmed our image. During his visit to Rome last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated, “There is a tremendous opportunity for Canada to lead a world that is being reshaped.”

Carney’s words have been and continue to be reaffirmed by Global Affairs Canada publications, which indicate that Canadians tend to value global citizenship and international aid.

However, simultaneously, it is no secret that there are problems at home: a strained healthcare system, housing crisis, limited summer job opportunities for youth, and mounting fears over the economy are on the minds of almost every Canadian. Understandably, these domestic pressures have given rise to louder calls for a “Canada First” approach. Yet, for some, such an approach has come at the expense of addressing global issues and providing aid.  

This misguided perception is a grave mistake. 

According to organizations like the Borgen Project — a nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for the eradication of global poverty — investing in foreign aid isn’t merely an altruistic obligation. It’s a smart strategy that benefits one’s domestic prosperity.

Canada’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) indeed aids developing countries, but in doing so, it creates new trade markets for Canadian businesses. Investing in maturing economies means investing in future trade partners. 

Take South Korea, for example, which was once a post-war aid recipient, is now a major power and Canada’s eighth-largest trading partner. 

The return on Canada’s investment is clear. In fact, the Canadian International Development Platform found that every dollar spent on aid generates $1.80 for Canadian exports.

Beyond economics, ODA spending is also vital in protecting our health. As we saw in the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious diseases are not restricted by borders. When Canada supports vaccination efforts and health systems abroad, we reduce the risk of future outbreaks reaching our door. It’s a preventive measure which saves lives globally.

Despite these benefits, Canada’s commitment to ODA has been slipping. While the United Nations recommends that developed countries contribute at least .7 per cent of their Gross National Income (GNI) to foreign aid, Canada currently allocates just .34 per cent of its GNI to the ODA. That’s only 34 cents out of every $100 earned.

If we want to maintain our Canadian values of global engagement and ensure long-term domestic ideas, we must continue to advocate for an increase in ODA spending. In today’s interconnected world, looking outward is one of the smartest ways to protect what matters most within.

Roni Feigenberg

Vaughan

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