Queen’s University expert David Elder is available to talk about reports that today’s federal budget will announce the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is expected to merge with the Foreign Affairs Department.

“Much of the direction of our development assistance policies will remain the same, but this move provides an opportunity to review and hopefully streamline the administrative practices of CIDAs’ aid program,” Prof. Elder says. “I’m not sure how much of this move is directed towards budgetary savings, but it is an opportunity to rethink and retool aid administration.”

Prof. Elder, who works in the School of Policy Studies, notes the OECD Development Assistance Committee has criticized the over-centralization of CIDA’s decision making.

Prof. Elder worked in the Public Service of Canada for over 30 years. He began his career in the Department of External Affairs (now Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada) and also worked for 10 years in the Privy Council Office.

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