Thank you for the question.
Of course, the subject of international assistance is something that keeps the experts on the region awake at night. Although the vision is for a return to a secure world, international assistance was not wholly altruistic. Assistance in that form was intended to provide lasting security for the world. With no more international assistance, with no more programs to facilitate the transition, recruitment for violent groups becomes worse. In other words, violence feeds on vulnerable populations. It's not a direct link, but it's a link nonetheless, so I agree with you.
This is not just about international assistance. Canada has a very specific program using diplomatic channels, in a way. It would count as assistance financially but it's not strictly development aid. The program I am thinking of is the peace and stabilization operations program. The program funds microprograms and, sometimes, civil society initiatives. They are defined by conditions on the ground and make it possible to implement evidence-gathering and transition-to-justice programs.
For a long time, Canada was one of the six most innovative countries in the world. The budgets were quite limited, but the investments really did allow some countries to return to democracy and pluralism.
I agree with you that budget cuts are extremely troubling.
Thank you.