June 21, 2013
TORONTO — Helping the world's most vulnerable people move from poverty to prosperity remains central to Canada's international assistance agenda. The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation, today described the evolution of Canada's continuing commitment to international development and humanitarian assistance, in a keynote address to the Canadian International Council in Toronto.
"Today's global realities require an innovative and comprehensive approach to international assistance that ensures Canada's investments continue to save lives, alleviate poverty and empower people around the world to be self-sufficient," said Minister Fantino. "Our government's approach recognizes the growing role of the private sector in driving sustainable economic growth, the enormous potential of youth and the importance of transparency and accountability in maximizing development results."
Minister Fantino stated that Canada will continue to focus on such development priorities as increasing food security, securing a future for children and youth, and stimulating sustainable economic growth, as well as advancing democracy and promoting security and stability. For example, Prime Minister Harper led a G-8 initiative in 2010 to prevent newborn infant deaths and improve maternal health in the developing world. The goal of the Muskoka Initiative is to prevent the deaths of as many as 64,000 mothers and 1.3 million children under the age of five. In other areas, Canada's assistance has helped to enrol an additional 23 million children in primary schools, construct more than 37,000 classrooms, and train more than 413,000 teachers.
"The new Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development will ensure that Canada can build on its leadership to date and help a future generation benefit from economic growth around the world," said Minister Fantino. "Development is an integral part of our government's efforts to create a prosperous and secure world—not only abroad but here at home as well."
The new Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development will strengthen policy coherence and result in a greater overall impact from Canada's international assistance. The new department will continue to advance poverty alleviation and maintain the ability to respond to humanitarian crises in an effort to improve the lives of people in need around the world.
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