Canada to focus foreign aid on building ‘mutual prosperity’ with trading partners: MP

The Canadian Press: “The first priority is focusing our development dollars in a trade and development nexus,” Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, told The Canadian Press.

“Due to the new trade realities that the world is facing — and specifically Canada — I think we need to use development as a positive tool to help create new pathways and create mutual prosperity for the partner countries as well.”

Sarai’s comments come as the federal government moves to slash $2.7 billion from the foreign aid budget over four years. Ottawa insists the cuts will bring Canada’s spending back to pre-pandemic levels…