PBI-Canada studying Budget 2025, developing an analysis on its implications for human rights defenders
Peace Brigades International-Canada is reviewing news articles and commentary from civil society allies to develop an understanding about how Budget 2025 tabled by the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney today could impact the safety and security of PBI accompanied human rights defenders.
Canada Strong: Budget 2025 can be read in full here.
Cuts to foreign aid
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) notes: “International assistance will be cut by $800 million a year, leaving Canada’s development-to-GDP ratio from its current dismal 0.32 per cent of GDP to 0.26 per cent by 2028.”
And Toronto Star columnist Justin Ling comments: “Just months after President Donald Trump gutted America’s foreign assistance program, USAID, Canada is also slashing foreign aid spending.”
With respect to the $12.3 billion foreign aid budget being cut by $2.7 billion, the Canadian Press notes: “It’s not clear where the aid cuts will land. The budget talks of ‘leveraging innovative tools, while focusing support for countries that need it the most’ and rejigging existing agreements with specific countries.”
Cuts to Global Affairs Canada
The Canadian Press also reports: “Global Affairs Canada’s planned spending for the current fiscal year was $8.1 billion. Tuesday’s budget forecasts $561 million in cuts in the next fiscal year, scaling up to $1.1 billion in annual savings two years later, and for each ongoing year.”
Notably, that article highlights these cuts could include “merging some embassies with those operated by like-minded countries.”
Seeking update on permanent and temporary relocation for HRDs
In July 2023, the Government of Canada announced: “the expansion of the global human rights defenders stream, doubling the number of resettlement spaces from 250 to 500 for HRDs and their family members. The initiative, propelled by the belief that no one should face persecution for championing justice, reflects Canada’s unwavering commitment to providing a sanctuary for those who risk their lives in the pursuit of fundamental freedoms.”
The announcement also noted: “We will also re-engage Canadian civil society organizations over the coming months on the development of a temporary protection pathway for HRDs in need.”
Front Line Defenders has provided this overview of the program.
We are now in the process of trying to ascertain the status of this program and the impact the cuts in Budget 2025 could have on this. We do so in the context of Global News reporting: “Canada will see cuts to temporary immigration over the next three years, the federal government said in its budget document on Tuesday, with targets effectively freezing for permanent residents.”
No news on the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE)
The Canadian Press highlights: “The budget does not say whether Ottawa will fill vacant positions such as the climate change ambassador, the envoy for women, peace and security, and the ombudsperson responsible for investigating reports of forced labour abroad [CORE].”
Just two weeks ago, Canadian civil society organizations, including the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network, MiningWatch Canada, Amnesty International and Unifor, urged “the trade minister to appoint a new Ombudsperson immediately” and “the Government of Canada to grant the office the independence and powers needed to conduct investigations effectively.”
1,000 new RCMP personnel
While Budget 2025 also does not appear to mention funding for the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) that investigates the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and the Chairperson position has been vacant since January 2025 thus hindering the watchdog agency’s ability to complete the systemic investigation into RCMP Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) conduct against land and environmental defenders, Budget 2025 does promise to hire 1,000 new personnel for the RCMP.
$81.8 billion for the military
And while foreign aid will be cut, CBC News notes: “Budget 2025 earmarks $81.8 billion for defence over five years, roughly $72 billion of which is new money.”
In June 2025, the Carney government announced its intention to increase military spending to 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which could mean an increase from the current $33 billion a year to $150 billion a year by 2035.
Critical minerals and “free, prior, and informed consent”
Mining.com notes: “Canada’s Liberal government plans to form a C$2 billion ($1.4bn) sovereign fund for critical minerals, earmark hundreds of millions in mining industry spending and widen exploration tax credits to a dozen other minerals, according to the federal budget presented on Tuesday.”
However, APTN also notes: “In the section discussing the new Major Projects Office, created under the One Canadian Economy Act to accelerate major energy project development, there is a notable first. A non-financial commitment, Indigenous leaders have been waiting to hear. The Carney government explicitly references free, prior, and informed consent. Previously, Carney assured the public that major projects would not move forward without agreement from all parties, but he had stopped short of using those exact words. Now, the language appears plainly in the budget.”
Budget vote on November 17
CityNews has reported: “The House of Commons sitting calendar means there would be debate days on Nov. 5, 6, 7 and 17 (the House is off the week of Nov. 10 due to Remembrance Day). The vote is set to happen on Nov. 17, which gives the governing Liberals some additional time to try to shore up support if needed.”
Further reading
Post-election budget could plunge Canada into another federal election (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives)
Budget 2025: Unifor welcomes gains for workers, calls for fight back to protect Canadian jobs (Unifor)
Federal Budget: Government plans deep public service cuts and weakens workers’ bargaining rights (Public Service Alliance of Canada)
Carney’s first budget gives corporations a free ride and leaves working Canadians behind (Canadian Union of Public Employees)
Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers’) statement on Defence spending increases (CFSC)
*At this time, we also recall that more than 40 years ago, the German activist Petra Kelly wrote in Nonviolent Social Defense: “We spend billions on weapons research and millions training our young people at military academies. Why not invest in peace studies and peace actions? We need training centers, public campaigns, and educational materials. We need to support groups like Peace Brigades International that intervene nonviolently in situations of conflict. We need to work concretely to realize peace and nonviolence in our time.”
