Ottawa’s corridors are no stranger to cozy relationships between the federal government and international aid organizations, but few cases highlight the deep entanglement between government foreign aid funds and political influence quite like Cuso International.
On the surface, Cuso International is a humanitarian organization dedicated to foreign development projects. This charity — funded with nearly $180 million in taxpayer money from Global Affairs Canada since 2015 — has been quietly steered by a leadership team that includes several generous Liberal Party of Canada donors and insiders.
True North has discovered that four members of the organization’s board and executive leadership are listed as donors to the Liberal Party of Canada in Elections Canada records, contributing a combined $11,279.60 when individual donations were added together.
According to Cuso International’s financial statements between 2015 and 2024, the organization received a total of $179,434,291 from Global Affairs Canada via its Volunteer Cooperation Program and other funds. When accounting for GAC’s total budgeted funding going back to 2007, that figure reaches nearly $289 million.
This funding accounts for a significant portion of the organization’s overall revenue, with GAC contributions making up as much as 69.18% of total revenue in 2016.
[…]
The funded project objectives are telling. Cuso International’s projects align almost perfectly with the Trudeau government’s progressive priorities — diversity, equity, inclusion, gender equality, and climate change. Those projects include the ongoing “Blueprints for Gender Equality” towards which Global Affairs Canada budgeted $2.5 million to “foster more open, inclusive, and gender-responsive governance in Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
Wednesday On Turtle Island
Woke America: Dismantling the deep state. A misdemeanor. Hollywood hates Jews.
Prime Minister Carney’s Canada: Trudeau’s carbon fantasies. The Liberal Party’s “Leger” has a new poll out. The Libranos look after their friends. A healing camp. (Warning: CBC)
Odds And Ends: The carnage wrought by wind turbines. Britain is run by crazy people. Meanwhile in Germany.
Your morning meme. Another meme.
February 12, 2025: Reader Tips
We travel back to 1981 to present Loverboy on American Bandstand.
Here’s an hilarious comedic depiction of what it’s like to leave the Republican Party vs. the Democrat Party. But replace the latter with “leaving the Liberals” or choosing not to get injected with an experimental drug and it’s the same end effect.
Your best tips of late are appreciated!
You Can’t Yell “FIRE!” In A Crowded Theater
People are so dumb. pic.twitter.com/FTwXPppgbP
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 11, 2025
Dreamland
Business leaders can ask all they want, but it ain’t gonna happen. The interests of the nation can take a back seat while the Liberal party sorts out their leadership mess at a leisurely pace.
More than 100 Canadian business leaders have signed a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking him to recall Parliament to deal with Canada’s trade issues with the United States.
Vice-President JD Vance Charts a Path Forward for AI
Canada’s Massive Drug Corruption
Daniela Cambone hosts an important and interesting discussion about a non-weather Category 5 Hurricane that’s about to hit “Arctic Mexico” aka Canada. Every single Canadian needs to watch this video!
Update:
Street Smarts
Art Of The Troll
Not just Saskatchewan’s leading source for breaking news, @JustBins tops it with clear eyed political analysis like this.
Coulda Had A Pipeline
CBC's Cullen doesn't like Scott Moe's answer on interprovincial trade barriers, so he lets her her know exactly where he stands on pipelines
Cullen "How likely really looking at the commercial environment right now is it that we would see a west east pipeline in Canada?"
Moe… pic.twitter.com/tt7RpXdN1i
— cbcwatcher (@cbcwatcher) February 10, 2025
Today In The Vote Rich Rapey-Beheader Community
Canada failed Gazan refugees by refusing to let more into the country, Liberal Party leadership contender Frank Baylis said yesterday. The former MP (Pierrefonds-Dollard, Que.) and federal contractor said taxpayers should make it up by rebuilding Palestinian homes: “It’s a form of discrimination we have done against the Palestinian people.”
Today In Islam
Tuesday On Turtle Island
Woke America: Al Sharpton’s latest scam. The Harris interview. Hollywood is upset.
Mark Carney’s Canada: The Laurentian elites overreact. Foreign Affairs Barbie hires a consultant. WEF’s Carney.
Odds And Ends: He came out and said it. Life in Ireland. The chicken nuggets case. Queer universities.
Your morning meme. Another meme.
FBI Finds Secret JFK Assassination Records
The FBI just discovered about 2,400 records tied to President Kennedy’s assassination that were never provided to a board tasked with reviewing and disclosing the documents, Axios has learned.
• The still-secret records are contained in 14,000 pages of documents the FBI found in a review triggered by President Trump’s Jan. 23 executive order demanding the release of all JFK assassination records.
Why it matters: The discovery — 61 years after Kennedy was killed in Dallas — follows decades of government reluctance to release all documents related to the assassination, which fueled a mountain of conspiracy theories.
• The existence of the new documents was disclosed Friday to the White House, when the Office of the Director of National Intelligence submitted its plan to disclose the assassination records under Trump’s order.
February 11, 2025: Reader Tips
We return to 1967 to enjoy Divorce American Style. With RT ratings of 100% / 57%, it’s likely worth a watch!
Bonus: From a few Super Bowls ago, here is Chris Stapleton performing the American National Anthem.
We’ll be watching the posting of your best tips!
Honey, I Finished The Internet
Everybody Loves Bacon
The Mind Wobbles
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
This is an important & informative X page to follow: X.com/DOGE
Here’s a summary of some recent savings by DOGE:
But The Poll Numbers Look So Good
Or do they?
CTV- Two more Trudeau cabinet members will not seek re-election
Justice Minister Arif Virani and International Trade Minister Mary Ng join several high-profile Liberal MPs over the past 12 months who have decided against seeking another term.
Francisco- So the “trade minister” resigns the same day as 25% tariffs go on our steel and aluminum exports. Probably just a random coincidence.