Subhead:Cabinet approved nearly $60 million for the initiative, which distributed grants to several Canadian universities and Indigenous organizations.#
A federal audit has found it “difficult” to measure the positive impact of a $59.8 million subsidy program launched in 2021 to promote the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), citing vague objectives and weak tracking of results.
The Department of Social Development’s internal audit, Valuation Of The Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program 2025, concluded that the program’s broad focus and inconsistent reporting made it nearly impossible to assess whether it advanced awareness or tangible progress toward the UN’s Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Originally praised by then-international development minister Karina Gould as a path toward “a brighter future for everyone,” the five-year initiative aimed to fund projects promoting 17 global goals, including poverty reduction, gender equality, climate action, and peace and justice. However, auditors found “most funded projects were broadly focused,” with unclear metrics and limited evidence of results.
AUDIT @ESDC_GC: “Difficult” to determine what good came of $59.8 million dollar subsidy program to promote @UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Then-Minister @karinagould launched program in 2021 on promise of “brighter future for everyone.”https://t.co/KTyR6m1xHW #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/7PHBsusRu5— Holly Doan (@hollyanndoan) November 12, 2025
