Canadian Foodgrains Bank welcomes the Government of Canada’s increase in Official Development Assistance (ODA) for 2022-23 announced in the 2022 federal budget on April 7.
Paul Hagerman, director of public policy, says the increase in humanitarian assistance is a step in the right direction to ensure that people living in vulnerable situations in places like Syria, Ukraine and Ethiopia are able to receive emergency humanitarian support.
“We know Canada is a compassionate nation and that Canadians care about the plight of the millions of people facing hunger around the world,” says Hagerman. “We’re pleased to see this reflected in the 2022 budget through a small increase in ODA, particularly during a time when conflict, climate change and COVID-19 have created a unique set of cascading global crises.”
Additionally, Budget 2022 proposes an amendment to the Income Tax Act, which will allow greater flexibility for charities like the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and its 15 member organizations to support partner organizations around the world who do not hold official charity status.
Hagerman says it signals an important shift in the way we think about international development work and a step toward localization.
