In March 2012, the Canadian government announced a reduction of more than 8 percent over 3 years to the budget of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). This $319 million cut is equivalent to the cost of one of the sixty-five F-35 fighter jets the Government wants to buy.

 This $319 million cut is equivalent to the cost of one of the sixty-five F-35 fighter jets the Government wants to buy.

World Renew has joined ADRA, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, PWRDF, the United Church of Canada, World Vision, and 27 other non-profit organizations in a campaign calling on the federal government to reverse cuts to CIDA and restore funding in the 2013 Budget.

Reverse the Cuts was developed by RESULTS Canada, an organization "dedicated to ending extreme poverty through the commitment of passionate and engaged citizens."

“Maintaining our engagement and support to developing countries is a moral obligation,” says Jean-François Tardif, Executive Director of RESULTS Canada. “Canada is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. We can afford this. It is a question of priorities.”

Ida Kaastra Mutoigo, Executive Director of World Renew Canada, concurs.

“The campaign to Reverse the Cuts is important for World Renew because it calls our nation and all of God's people to keep our commitment to the poor.  We made a promise as a nation to increase our contributions to at least 0.7% of GDP for supporting developing nations.  We have not kept that promise.  We also made a promise to God as a church that we will join him in His work to reconcile all things in heaven and earth, including the broken relationships that have led to poverty and injustice.  Our advocating for a campaign that increases the resources of our nation towards that work is fully aligned with what God expects. 

Having said this, we also need to send a message to leaders of our nation that increasing resources in itself is not enough.  There must also be a political commitment to direct these resources to effective interventions that lead to sustainable change in overcoming poverty and injustice.

This campaign is not just about reversing the cuts but focusing the funding for countries in high need–not just countries that are prioritized for Canada's foreign policy.  Politicization of contributions is basically a form of "tied aid" which does not fit with our Canadian culture of charitable giving nor with our biblical mandate to help others no matter what their backgrounds.”

For more information about the Reverse the Cuts campaign and to find out what you can do, click here.