Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Climate Change, Cybercrime, and Gender Equality – IMF F&D

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Encouraged by global efforts to meet the Paris Climate Agreement goals; increasing number of countries implementing a price on pollution.
Concern that some allies and partners have wavered from commitments made at COP21.
Canada hosted this year’s Clean Energy Ministerial, convening climate leaders from over 25 countries.
Outcomes of the ministerial cited:
- New investments in carbon capture technology.
- New investments in electric vehicle production.
Policy emphasis:
- International cooperation and solutions are paramount.
- Leaders must take bold, concerted action today to protect livelihoods and futures.

Recognition that climate change effects are mounting and affect vulnerable populations.
Canada’s response to integrate sustainability into the financial sector:
- 2018: Canada’s minister of finance and minister of environment and climate change created the Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance.
- "In June, we received the final report from the Expert Panel and are currently considering its findings."
Rationale and goals:
- Equip Canadian businesses with tools and resources to thrive during the transition to a greener economy.
- Combine financial sector expertise with environmental considerations to build a carbon-neutral economy.
- Aim for Canada to become a world leader in sustainable finance by leveraging a strong economy, innovation, and an internationally competitive financial sector.

Stated cost of cybercrime in Canada: data breaches cost citizens and businesses over $3 billion each year.
Government actions taken:
- Made the single largest investment in cybersecurity ever by the Canadian government.
- Launched the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to consolidate federal operational cyber expertise.
- Introduced a National Cyber Security Strategy to enhance cybersecurity, protect critical infrastructure, and help Canadians stay safe online.
- Invested $200 million in the national police force for tools and resources to fight online crime.
Economic footprint and employment:
- Innovations in online security services account for $1.7 billion of Canada’s GDP per year.
- Cybersecurity supports 20,000 jobs across the country, with the potential to create hundreds of thousands more globally.
Policy approach:
- Continue collaboration with private sector partners to foster security research and innovation.

Cited real-world consequences of online misinformation, including radicalization and the 2017 Quebec City Islamic Cultural Centre attack.
International and multilateral engagement:
- Joined New Zealand’s Christchurch Call to Action.
- Working with allies and platforms through the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism to identify and take down terrorist content online.
Domestic measures to protect democracy:
- Passed a bill to modernize Canada’s elections for the digital age and guard against interference during an election period.
- Collaborating with social media platforms to maintain a registry of partisan and election advertising published during lead-up to and during elections.
Policy principle:
- Reducing disinformation requires countries to work toward similar standards; regulations cannot be piecemeal.

2015: Gender equality made a core commitment of the government campaign; appointment of Canada’s first-ever gender balanced cabinet.
Domestic actions and legislation:
- Created the first-ever National Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.
- Passed legislation to ensure equal pay for work of equal value in the federal public service.
- Passed legislation to eliminate harassment and violence in the federal workplace.
- Integrated gender-based analysis into all major policy decisions, including the federal budget.
Investments and programs:
- Launched the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy and invested $2 billion to support women entrepreneurs, with the objective to double the amount of women-owned businesses in Canada by 2025.
- Invested $100 million in women’s organizations.

Feminist International Assistance Policy:
- Makes gender equality and women’s empowerment a focus of all Canadian international assistance.
Financing and funds:
- Established the Equality Fund to bring together resources from the private sector, civil society, and government.
- Committed $1.4 billion annually to support women and girls’ health around the world, including $700 million of the annual investment dedicated to sexual and reproductive health rights.
Multilateral and G7 leadership:
- During Canada’s G7 presidency in 2018, created the Gender Equality Advisory Council to integrate a gender lens across G7 activities.
- At the G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Canada and partners announced an investment of almost $4 billion in education for women and girls in conflict and crisis situations—the largest investment of its kind ever made.

Interview in F&D Magazine by Rahim Kanani with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, June 2019