In a recent Statistical Report on International Assistance presented in Canadian Parliament, it has been confirmed that China is still benefiting from $7.59 million in foreign aid from the Canadian federal government. The figures provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs have reignited debates that surfaced four years ago when opposition MPs urged an immediate halt to all foreign aid to China, criticizing its “communist dictatorial government” and human rights abuses.
The issue gained prominence four years ago when China received as much as $41 million from Canada, prompting then-Opposition leader Andrew Scheer to advocate for the suspension of all aid. Scheer voiced his stance, stating, “I don’t believe Canadian taxpayers should be sending any money to China,” citing concerns about China’s human rights abuses, suppression of freedoms, and aggressive foreign policies misaligned with Canadian values.
The reported aid to China does not encompass additional financial engagements, such as $18.7 million in repayable Export Development Canada loans and the Finance Department’s $159.2-million US investment in shares of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing.
Opposition MPs persistently call for the withdrawal of the Canadian government’s investment in the bank. Testifying at a committee hearing last year, Bob Pickard, who resigned as the bank’s communications chief, alleged “undue Chinese Communist Party influence” in the bank’s daily operations, expressing concerns about staff composition and potential implications of his disclosures.
Ethiopia stands as the largest recipient of Canadian foreign aid, receiving $206.6 million annually.
