Submission to pre-budget consultation (Feb, 2024)

Government budgets might not sound all that exciting. But they matter greatly to the peace and social justice issues that Canadian Quakers care about and work on. For that reason, Canadian Friends Service Committee has made the following written submission for the pre-budget consultations in advance of the upcoming Federal Budget.

Summary of recommendations

Recommendation 1:

Advancing reconciliation through sustained and diligent progress on implementing the TRC Calls to Action, and the UN Declaration Act and National Action Plan.

1.a) Provide sufficient and sustained long-term funding for the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can monitor and report on all progress with reconciliation in Canada.

1.b) Substantive action needs to take place in full cooperation with Indigenous peoples regarding implementation of the Declaration Act. A plan with funding attached is needed to help provinces and territories develop and pass legislation that brings them into alignment with the UN Declaration Act.

1.c) Government spending cuts should not be applied to Indigenous Services Canada and Crown Indigenous Relations.

Recommendation 2

Make substantive investments in community-based organizations to ensure the successful implementation of the Federal Framework to Reduce Recidivism.

2.a) Enhance access to community-based supports and services that meet the specific needs of the families and children of people who are incarcerated.

2.b) Expand on successful alternative sentencing programs and invest in innovative best practice solutions that can address the over-representation of Indigenous, Black, and racialized Canadians in custody, especially Indigenous women who represent 50% of women currently incarcerated.

2.c) Adopt Bill S-233 An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income.

Recommendation 3

Increase funding to Canada’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) from $100m to $125m over two years.

3.a) In particular, focus on investing and enhancing Canadian CSO expertise in peacebuilding strategies that would be cost effective when applied to areas of tension/conflict.

3.b) Support the Canadian Peace Partners Network (CPPN) to develop a peace lens to apply to all projects/programs of PSOPs and GAC on par with their gender-responsive approach and Feminist International Assistance Policy.

Recommendation 4

Increase the international assistance envelop to $8.9 billion to maintain Canadian international commitments and address global inequality while also allowing Canada to be responsive to new and emerging humanitarian crisis.

Read the full submission (PDF).