Despite Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent announcement that Canada would no longer pursue a "feminist foreign policy," Canadian taxpayers remain committed to hundreds of millions of dollars in gender-focused international aid projects that will continue through the next decade.
Policy Shift Meets Existing Commitments
During the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Prime Minister Carney clarified that while feminism would remain an "aspect" of Canadian diplomacy, it would no longer serve as the overarching mission of Canada's foreign policy. This marked a significant departure from the approach championed by his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, who in 2017 directed Canada's foreign aid agencies to prioritize gender equality and empowering women and girls.
However, this policy change comes as Global Affairs Canada has already approved multi-year grant funding for 177 projects that mention gender in their applications. These initiatives, scheduled to receive final payments as late as 2033, represent a total commitment of $1.73 billion in Canadian foreign aid spending.
Controversial Gender-Focused Programs
Among the ongoing projects drawing scrutiny is the $8.2 million "Greening our rice: gender-just, low-carbon, rice value chains in Vietnam" program administered by Oxfam Canada. This four-year initiative aims to transform rice farming in the Mekong Delta by "integrating gender equity, sustainability, and economic empowerment" for approximately 20,500 rice growers.
The program has become a focal point for criticism, with Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman recently describing it as a "foreign aid vanity project" during House of Commons comments. The project promises to implement gender responsive practices in Vietnamese rice production, though specific details about what constitutes "gender-just" rice remain somewhat unclear.
Another notable program includes a $4.5 million initiative in Nepal and Bangladesh focused on "gender-responsive public planning." Conducted by St. Francis Xavier University, this three-year project aims to create "intersectional democratic spaces" through workshops and "generational dialogues." The program summary commits to preparing 950 minority women for roles in gender-responsive public planning by 2028.
Legacy of Feminist Foreign Policy
The Trudeau government's feminist foreign policy approach has generated both international praise and domestic criticism over the past several years. Some of the most widely discussed initiatives included $4 million in funding for gender-inclusive demining in Ukraine and the now-famous gender-just rice program in Vietnam.
While Prime Minister Carney's recent comments suggest a recalibration of Canada's international approach, the extensive existing commitments mean that gender-focused aid will continue to represent a significant portion of Canada's foreign policy footprint for years to come. The tension between new policy directions and previous financial obligations highlights the challenges facing governments when implementing substantial changes in international development strategy.
As these programs continue their implementation phases, scrutiny of their effectiveness and alignment with Canada's evolving foreign policy objectives is likely to intensify among parliamentarians and the Canadian public alike.
