Will Canada be a Global Health Champion?

This year, major country donors have slashed aid budgets. Total Official Development Assistance from the top 17 is predicted to drop by nearly 25 percent from 2024 to 2026—and global health has been hit particularly hard, with expected cuts of up to 40 percent.

In contrast, voters in Canada have elected a party pledging to “protect Canada’s proud tradition of supporting the poorest and most vulnerable” over the opposition calling for “massive cuts” to foreign aid. As the Carney government sets out its priorities, we ask, can Canada step up and champion global health?

This event will build on a recent report by the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences—“Protecting Our Collective Future: Renewing Canada’s Role in Global Health”—to consider how Canada can most effectively contribute to global health. Speakers will draw on their experiences within the Canadian development sector and the wider global health architecture to reflect on how Canada can harness the opportunity to step up as a leader in global health.