Today, World Renew joined 28 faith-based organizations to call on the federal government to reduce reliance on weapons and military spending and, instead, make a sustained investment in solutions that integrate peace and build an all-encompassing approach to security that meaningfully considers how to build a hopeful future for everyone. 

Canada is increasing its military spending while decreasing its foreign aid contributions. Instead of building up our military in times of global uncertainty and fear, Canada has an opportunity to take the lead globally with investments that show care for our neighbours in countries around the world, and hope for our shared future.  

Canada is known as a peace-building nation and we ask that part of national defense spending continues to be explicitly prioritized for non-violent conflict prevention and peace keeping, including climate monitoring systems, support for democratization, and institutions that contribute to peace and stability. 

In our work and partnerships in marginalized and crisis-affected parts of the world, World Renew sees firsthand that conflict exacerbates suffering for the most vulnerable people who live through it, especially women and children. Canada has a responsibility to invest in protecting them. 

“We believe true security efforts consider health, affordability, and food security, as well as the impacts of climate change,” said Peter Timmerman, Canadian executive director of World Renew, “It is much less expensive and caring to bring security by addressing these root causes of conflict than engaging in the conflicts they cause with weapons and force.