愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Joly urges more funding to hire Canadian diplomats, amid Liberal cutbacks on spending

Share
OTTAWA -

Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly is asking MPs to support more funding for Global Affairs Canada, despite the Liberals undertaking cutbacks across the government.

Joly says that the United States, France and rapidly developing countries are staffing up to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world. 

She cited the countries known as BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, known as emerging market countries.

Canada needs more diplomats if it wants to have an influence in the Indo-Pacific and other key regions of the world, Joly said.

"I really hope that we can all agree on the fact that we need to invest more in our diplomats. It is important that we have our resources," Joly said.

She also said more investment in government information technology is needed, citing more frequent cyberattacks.

Global Affairs Canada confirmed last week it was investigating a cyberattack and data breach that had forced it to limit remote access to its networks, two years after a similar incident.

Joly asserted the need for investment despite the government's plan to cut expenditures by $7.1 billion over five years overall, starting with a three per cent cut on most departments.

She made her comments to MPs at a meeting of the House of Commons foreign-affairs committee on Wednesday evening.

Her comments came as senators have also been warning that the foreign service can't reform itself while facing cutbacks.

Parliamentary committees can issue recommendations to the House of Commons, including on how the government should spend its money.

"This is an opportunity for you to say, 'Yes, I believe in the work Canada does at the international level,'" Joly said.

"And I鈥檒l be frank: it should not be partisan."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2024

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'

The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.

A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.

Local Spotlight

Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.

A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.

The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.

A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north

What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.

New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.

Stay Connected