Alternative Federal Budget 2026 notes importance of Canada supporting human rights defenders
Photo: Finance minister François-Philippe Champagne will table the next federal budget on November 4, 2025.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) has just released its Alternative federal budget 2026.
PBI-Canada notes the inclusion of human rights defenders in this AFB.
In the AFB chapter on International cooperation notes: “Demonstrating a commitment to democratic values through robust support for civil society, independent media, and human rights defenders will enhance Canada’s international standing and ensure that its global engagement reflects both its principles and strategic interests.”
It also says: “The AFB will invest in civilian protection by focusing on vulnerable populations in conflict zones, including women, children, and displaced persons, to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches those most in need.”
And it highlights: “The AFB will defend civic space and human rights by using its influence in global forums and providing dedicated funding as part of the IAE [international assistance envelope] to expand support for civil society and civic space. This funding will prioritize agile partnerships with local actors and support human rights defenders, civil society organizations and movements, independent media, and the legal and enabling environment for civil society, human rights, and democracy.”
The singular budget recommendation: “Maintain Canada’s Official Development Assistance at 2023-24 level ($10.2 billion) and adjust for inflation.”
Protection Mechanism in Mexico
On October 9, Stuart Trew, senior researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and director of the CCPA’s Trade and Investment Research Project (TIRP), presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT).
Trew noted in his presentation:
“In light of the new Canada-Mexico Action Plan, I think it would be beneficial to strengthen cooperation with Mexico in areas like human rights as well by supporting the Protection Mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists which is under the jurisdiction of the Mexican government. This benefits Canadian businesses by giving them greater assurances that their Mexican operations are not going to be involved perhaps involuntarily in human rights violations.”
During a recent advocacy visit to Canada, two representatives of the Peace Brigades International accompanied Civil Society Organization Space / Espacio OSC noted that the Government of Canada had announced in the Canada-Mexico Action Plan $9.9 million in funding for projects in Mexico.
At meetings with Members of Parliament and Global Affairs Canada officials, Espacio OSC conveyed this message: “We believe that this could be supplemented by a similar amount allocated to strengthening the Mechanism over three years, focusing on the application of a gender, community, and Indigenous peoples and communities approach in risk assessments in multi-stakeholder spaces where civil society can participate alongside authorities and international organizations; to increase staffing levels; and to generate political awareness campaigns.”
We continue to follow this.
Further reading: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives notes the Protection Mechanism in Mexico at House of Commons committee presentation (PBI-Canada, October 10, 2025).
0 Comments