Statement from Minister Sajjan on International Development Week 2022

February 6, 2022 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today issued the following statement to kick off International Development Week 2022, which runs from February 6 to 12:

“International Development Week is an opportunity to recognize the people and organizations that contribute to eradicating poverty and building a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world. 

“It also is an opportunity to remind ourselves that global challenges are also Canada’s challenges. Continued conflict, climate change and COVID-19 affect all of us and we must continue to face these challenges knowing that helping some of us today will help all of us tomorrow.

“That is why Canada remains firmly committed to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its 17 sustainable development goals. These goals are wide-ranging and ambitious and they lay out a path to get us to that better world—for achieving gender equality, for building resilient economies while protecting the planet, and for making sure everyone has access to education and health care, including vaccines.

“Canada’s theme for International Development Week is Go for the Goals because, as we respond to and recover from the pandemic, the goals are more important than ever. They give us real targets to aim for and a working agenda to achieve them.

“Canadians know that we all have a part to play, which is why we have challenged Canadians to show us what they are doing in their personal lives to help support the Sustainable Development Goals. Find out about the contest we are running and how you can contribute to building a more sustainable and equal future for all. This #IDW2022, let’s #GoForTheGoals together!