After every news report we see the heavy toll of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
Posted yesterday at 3:00 p.m.
Ukrainians find their lives turned upside down as their democracy defends itself against attacks from a tyrannical neighbor. Canada has already pledged, and rightly so, to do everything possible to provide humanitarian aid and military equipment to Ukraine. However, this situation highlights how ill-prepared our country is to support its allies and its interests abroad; interests such as peace, democracy, human rights and a rules-based world order.
In light of events in Ukraine, the conclusion is that Canada will have to invest in all areas of foreign policy as it has not done for more than a generation.
Over the past century, Canada has taken part in both World Wars and the Korean War, invested in the Marshall and Colombo Plans, participated in the creation of global financial institutions at Bretton Woods, pioneered the model of UN peacekeeping operations during the Suez Canal crisis, helped launch La Francophonie and helped rally the Commonwealth to the fight against apartheid in South Africa.
A small, young country with a complex colonialist past, Canada has contributed disproportionately to the creation of a rules-based world order, as well as to advances in trade, human rights and democratic values. Progress from which it has benefited immensely over the past 60 years.
The peace dividends of the post-war decades have allowed us to invest more in the country. Result: the current ratio between internal expenses and international expenses is completely out of phase. During the 1950s and 1960s, our military spending alone accounted for close to 9% of our GDP. Today, all spending within the four pillars of foreign policy (diplomacy, trade, international aid and defence) represents less than 2%. As we face a new period of geopolitical upheaval due to climate change and the repositioning of superpowers, the share of the budget devoted to our foreign policy is well below that of our main allies.
The defense budget is a hot topic right now because of the war raging in Ukraine. But we must not lose sight of the essential role of development assistance and Canadian diplomacy.
Both are essential to reaping the socio-economic benefits of peace and preventing the exorbitant costs of war.
Scarcity of resources and economic insecurity undermine human rights and democracy and increase the risk of conflict. The World Bank predicts that by 2030, nearly two-thirds of people in extreme poverty will live in areas affected by conflict.
As the Liberal government prepares to unveil its budget, global threats to security, democracy and human rights are intensifying. Voices are being raised for Canada to invest 2% of its GDP in military spending, as planned by NATO (currently at 1.4%). Canada should also reaffirm its commitment to invest 0.7% of its GDP in development aid (currently at 0.3%). In its next budget, Canada should significantly increase predictable annual funding for international assistance.
Ukraine is a powder keg today. Unfortunately, there will be other crises tomorrow. We are already seeing the consequences of this conflict on other countries.
Many developing countries are at risk of food shortages due to the disruption of food production in Russia and Ukraine.
However, such shortages in North Africa and the Middle East risk contributing to the exodus of their inhabitants towards Europe.
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. International aid can avert the astronomical costs of economic crises, disease and climate change. It can also increase Canada’s influence and contribute to the world peace we want.