The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, refutes allegations that her government prioritizes trade over humanitarian aid and human rights.
The federal government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, has reduced foreign aid, signed economic agreements with autocratic regimes, and avoided openly criticizing American actions against multilateral institutions.
Anand stated on Thursday at the Ottawa Civic Space Summit that Canada’s values are deeply integrated with its economic and military interests.
She argued that for a country to be strong and for institutions to prosper, citizens themselves need to feel secure and protected, with the necessary economic means to survive.
Anand explained that Canada’s willingness to restore maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, amidst the US and Israel’s conflict with Iran, aims to reduce costs for Canadians and ensure that the poorest countries can access the fertilizers needed to feed their populations.
The conference focuses on the work of human rights defenders globally and how Canadian organizations can support them, along with indigenous peoples in Canada, in light of rising autocracy worldwide.
It is sponsored by Resilient Societies and Cooperation Canada, representing dozens of Canadian non-profit organizations active in international assistance.
The conference comes as human rights activists and former Liberal ministers like Lloyd Axworthy criticize the Carney government for economic agreements with Beijing and Gulf countries while avoiding direct criticism of their human rights records.
Opponents argue that while the private sector can contribute to projects improving living standards in developing countries, it cannot provide essential services like water and education for the world’s poorest.
Paulina Ibarra, head of the Multitudes Foundation in Chile, highlighted that Canadian support for civil society stimulates economic growth by reducing corruption and ending policies that hinder the success of women and minorities economically.
She emphasized that Canada’s feminist international aid policy and resilience program for democracy and human rights are crucial for economic security, allowing Canada to develop technical capabilities for response.
Anand also emphasized that effective diplomacy should not rely on social media as the main tool, advocating a strategic approach for conveying necessary messages.
She did not mention a tweet in 2018 by Global Affairs Canada calling for the release of women’s rights activists, which sparked a diplomatic dispute with Saudi Arabia for several years.
