Press release
PRESS RELEASE – For immediate release
Montreal, December 22, 2025 — Quebec’s international cooperation organizations strongly denounce the decision made by the Quebec government last Friday afternoon to withhold the second installment of financial aid from the Québec sans frontières (Quebec Without Borders) program for the 2025-2026 year from nearly half of the participating organizations. In doing so, the Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie (MRIF) has chosen to default on its contractual commitments as set out in its 2024-2028 multi-year program.
This decision by the Ministry deals a heavy blow to international cooperation efforts already weakened by deep funding cuts from Western governments. International cooperation is an essential lever for creating the security, stability, and trust required for sustainable and inclusive economic development.
This decision also undermines Quebec’s credibility with its international partners regarding its ability to honor existing contracts. It directly impacts agreements signed by organizations, which may now have to consider terminating jobs in Quebec and partnership contracts during the holiday season. What kind of image does a government project when it does not respect its own contractual obligations?
The affected organizations—notably Lawyers Without Borders Canada, CECI, Equitas, the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation, Oxfam-Québec, and SUCO—have already been enduring a funding freeze from this program for several weeks, decided unilaterally and without explanation by the MRIF. The minimum expected of the MRIF is that it honors its current contracts, just as it expects international cooperation organizations to do on their end.
This catastrophic decision will, above all, have direct repercussions on thousands of people worldwide. The cuts will hit some of the world’s most vulnerable communities and individuals.
"3,000 women, adolescents, and members of marginalized groups in Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo are directly affected. We also know that the community sector in Quebec is being hit hard by insufficient and unpredictable provincial funding, which also hurts vulnerable people. Why are this government's cuts specifically targeting these individuals at a time when inequality is rising?" asks Béatrice Vaugrante, Director General of Oxfam-Québec.
"Quebec is a benchmark for benevolence and community solidarity, both at home and abroad. The decision to cut international solidarity projects shakes a credibility built over decades. Our organizations find themselves in an untenable position: they have initiated projects that the government committed to funding, but which can no longer be carried out as planned. The Quebec organizations involved cannot shoulder this unexpected financial burden," deplores Odette McCarthy of Equitas.
"By failing to honor its commitments, the Quebec government is not only penalizing our organization but, first and foremost, the most vulnerable people, for whom access to justice is often the last barrier against violence and arbitrary rule," says Karine Ruel, Director General of Lawyers Without Borders Canada.
"It is deplorable that Quebec—a trusted, supportive, and committed partner in international cooperation for decades—is now a Quebec that does not honor its current contractual commitments. This is very damaging to Quebec’s image and reputation in the world," emphasizes Mr. Christian Champigny, Director General of SUCO.
Quebec’s expertise in international solidarity is at risk. In its 2024-2028 iteration, the Québec sans frontières program aims to consolidate this expertise to further support vulnerable communities in targeted countries and to create opportunities for volunteering and the exchange of knowledge and experience for Quebecers and numerous partners in the Global South.
"Quebec international cooperation organizations work with hundreds of partners in more than 86 countries, contributing to Quebec’s international influence while meeting the needs of the most vulnerable populations," notes Michèle Asselin, Director General of the Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI).
Beyond the immediate human impact, the QSF program plays a strategic role for Quebec. It helps maintain long-term relations with key partner countries, supports more stable and prosperous environments, and creates economic, social, and cultural bridges. In this sense, Quebec’s international cooperation organizations are essential players in Quebec’s international policy. In a global context marked by instability, climate crises, and geopolitical tensions—and at a time when Quebec seeks to build new commercial horizons—international cooperation also constitutes an investment in Quebec’s influence and credibility.
Aware of current budgetary constraints, exacerbated by federal government cuts announced in November and a global decline in international aid, AQOCI and the affected organizations hope to meet quickly with Minister Christopher Skeete. They wish to highlight the significant consequences of this decision on the entire Quebec international solidarity sector and on Quebec’s credibility and reputation worldwide. They request that the Minister reverse this decision, respect his contractual commitments, and fully maintain the Québec sans frontières program.
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Spokespeople are available for interviews.
Josianne Bertrand
Public and Media Relations
Oxfam-Québec
514 606-4663
josianne.bertrand@oxfam.org
Clémentine Chevallier
Communications Lead – Campaigns and Mobilization
SUCO
438 927-5727
Jean-Sébastien Vallée
Director of Education and Communications
Equitas
jsvallee@equitas.org
Alex Lemieux
Communications Coordinator
Lawyers Without Borders Canada
alex.lemieux@asfcanada.ca
Stephanie Nichols
Director of Communications and Philanthropic Development
CECI
514-358-4286
stephanie.nichols@ceci.ca
Bhava Thamotharam
Director of Communications
Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation
514-660-9356
bthamotharam@fondationpgl.ca