International Desk: Canada’s International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen has announced more than $270 million in new funding for foreign aid projects in Bangladesh and the Indo-Pacific region.
In a statement, he said, Canada continues to strengthen its long-standing people-to-people ties with the people of Bangladesh and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
Ahmed Hussen said, “By improving the health of at-risk populations, empowering women and addressing climate change, we are creating a brighter future for the global community.”
The new funding will finance 14 projects in Bangladesh and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. These projects are also being funded by Canada and other foreign partners and donors.
According to a Global News report, the federal Liberal government’s approach to foreign development assistance is very different from that of US President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump has stopped foreign funding through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
US President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, the country’s co-head of the government’s efficiency department, suspended foreign aid for 90 days shortly after taking office. They have closed aid programs around the world and furloughed thousands of government employees.
Trump and his administration view foreign aid programs as a waste of taxpayer money and claim that they support liberal political activities. However, according to their critics, such spending strengthens the US position in the world and counters foreign interference in other countries.
US foreign aid workers and supporters have taken to court to challenge Trump’s move. They say the president has exceeded his legal and constitutional authority by dismantling a federal agency that manages funds authorized by Congress.
Global News wrote that the projects that Canada is providing assistance to include inclusive education and training opportunities. The topics of these projects are gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, and the rights of women and girls.
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