He also plans to re-open the Office of Religious Freedom.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole plans to maintain foreign aid spending.
According to a CP report, “Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole says a government he led wouldn’t cut Canada’s spending on foreign aid. O’Toole made the commitment in a session with the international development community this morning, laying out some of the principles that would underpin his foreign-policy approach.”
Additionally, the report notes “He says advancing peace, justice, and human rights would be a central tenet of foreign policy under his government.”
He also plans to re-open the Office of Religious Freedom, and “make it easier for Canadian charities to operate abroad.”
Further, O’Toole says that while funding would be maintained, he would ‘place a greater focus’ on measuring how the money is spent.
Justin Trudeau’s foreign aid spending has been criticized by many people in Canada, with a perception that the government leaves issues in Canada unsolved while focusing on how to get attention overseas.
The Conservatives campaigned in 2019 on a plan to cut foreign aid by 25%.
It remains to be seen if O’Toole’s latest move to line up more with Liberal policy wins over centrist voters, or whether it has the impact of recent moves which have depressed some core Conservative supporters while failing to gain new voters.
Spencer Fernando
Photos – YouTube
