Dear Editor,
There is no denying that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humanity. To ignore
it is to turn a blind eye to rising floodwaters, intensifying wildfires, and record-breaking global
heat.
This crisis is here, and its consequences are inescapable. Warming temperatures will accelerate
the spread of infectious diseases, destroy homes and infrastructure, disrupt food security, and
deepen cycles of poverty. Vaccine-preventable diseases will rise as extreme weather, water
scarcity, and mass migration increase transmission. Women and children will bear the heaviest
burden.
Yet global aid is shrinking. The rollback of funding, including the U.S. suspension of
development aid, threatens progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Borders
will not hold back the devastation of climate change. The world must act collectively—and
Canada is in a position to lead. As the incoming G7 president in 2025, Canada has a critical
opportunity to champion international development assistance.
Canada must step up. Increasing the International Assistance Envelope (IAE) by $650
million in Budget 2025 is not just an investment—it is a lifeline. The government has pledged
to increase aid every year to 2030 and we as Canadians must hold them to it—our future
depends on it.
#budgetforleadership
