2025 was a devastating year for international aid cuts. In 2026, we have an opportunity to stop the cuts, at least in Canada. To make this happen, we need to take action now to ensure that the incredible global progress of the 21st century is not lost. That’s why we created a toolkit to help you advocate ahead of this fall’s Budget 2026. Learn more and join us in making sure Canada stands up for a better world!
Many wealthy countries drastically reduced their aid spending last year, with the most sweeping cuts coming from the United States, whom we might call the trendsetter. Other countries shortly followed suit, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, and the Netherlands. This aid-cutting trend is one we hoped Canada wouldn’t follow – but unfortunately, Canada hopped on the bandwagon. The federal government announced its own drastic cuts to international aid in budget 2025: a $2.7 billion reduction over four years.
These aid cuts not only threaten the lives of those living in extreme poverty, but also the security and prosperity of Canadians. We see budget 2026 as a critical advocacy moment – a time where we can all influence the federal government to stop cutting international aid and step up to create a better world.
Now is the time to make your voice heard before the budget is released in the fall! We created a budget 2026 toolkit to support everyday Canadians to take action to stop the cuts. It includes information on why international aid is important, why cutting it is so dangerous, and how you can take action to influence the upcoming budget.
Together our voices are powerful and we must stand up for the progress that will be lost and the millions of lives that are at risk.
Keep reading for a sneak peak of what you’ll find in the toolkit!
Why does Results Canada keep talking about international aid? Well, it’s because it’s so important. Every dollar invested in aid helps fight extreme poverty around the world and supports the necessary conditions for global stability. It's ultimately quite simple – international aid saves lives.
Because of its lifesaving role, cutting aid causes preventable deaths. And we’re already seeing the devastating impacts of last year’s cuts.
Cutting international aid is fundamentally a betrayal of the world’s most vulnerable, but the dangers also extend to Canada. If the COVID-19 pandemic and recent Ebola outbreak taught us anything, it’s that the next pandemic is not a matter of if, but when, so we must invest in pandemic preparedness.
International aid also creates new trade and economic opportunities that ultimately support Canadian prosperity. And accounting for only 32 cents of every $100 dollars of Canada’s wealth, international aid is incredibly affordable.
Canada has historically played an important role in international aid, but recent cuts jeopardize that leadership. As other countries pull back their helping hand while the world faces numerous complex crises, it’s more important than ever for Canada to step up again.
We want to see Canada continue its leading role in helping to end extreme poverty and not shy away when its aid is needed most. That’s why it’s so important to take action now and let the government know you care about Canadian international aid.
The government takes direction for its budget from Canadians themselves – your voice has an impact! We can show the government that people in Canada care about international aid and don’t want to see it cut. For more guidance on how to complete the actions described below, check out our full budget 2026 toolkit.
At Results Canada, we believe in the power of everyday people to make change happen. That’s why we created the budget 2026 toolkit to support anyone who wants to take action. Together, we can remind the government how important international aid is and that Canada should maintain a leading role in this space. in this space.
