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Event Summary:
 


Summary by
Mona Pinchis
Canada's Foreign Policy Priorities: We're asking YOU - What Should They Be? An Interactive Roundtable Discussion
 
Wednesday, 5 May 2010 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Munk Centre for International Studies
1 Devonshire Place, Room 108N
 
Moderator:
Dr. James Manicom, CIC-Toronto branch, Research Group Chair
 
Expert Participants:
Professor John Kirton, University of Toronto
Professor David Dewitt, York University
 
With the goal of organizing the 2010-2011 Canadian International Council ("CIC") research group priorities to develop publishable and scholarly works identifying Canada's foreign policy issues and implementation strategies, CIC members met on May 5th 2010 to discuss Canada's foreign policy priorities, and what they should be for the coming year.
 
The night began with the moderator challenging the attending CIC members to a roundtable discussion reminding them of the Hon. Bob Rae's April 22, 2010 keynote address entitled "Canada's Foreign Policy Priorities - What should they be?" Mr. Rae's four key points were put forward:
  1. that the overriding Canadian objective should be for Canada to build a world that is prosperous, sustainable and socially just;
  2. increasing Canadian activity in building a stronger role for improving and creating multilateral institutions;
  3. a necessary re-examination in the future of Canadian presence in the world (for example, where Canada "fits"), as well as mentioning Canada's involvement in Afghanistan post-2011 and Canada's future role in the Congo; and
  4. Canadian foreign policy makers must make decisions that integrate international development and foreign policy with domestic goals.
Building upon Mr. Rae's speech, the dialogue began with two guest speakers: Professor John Kirton and Professor David Dewitt. Prof. John Kirton took the opportunity to build his foreign policy critique around Mr. Rae's four points, but also provided his observations for developing Canada's goals. When determining capacity and national interests, Prof. Kirton criticized an "old orthodoxies" approach and advocated national unity as the imperative centre. He observed that in order to determine future capacity in foreign affairs and political and economic strategies, Canadians must collaborate to identify distinct Canadian values so as to present a unified Canadian vision that will promote national interests. To do so, Canada should also recognize a proper balance between idealistic foreign policy goals, national capabilities, as well as its large size, population, economic power, and diverse and changing demographics.
 
Commenting that Canadian elections were not made on foreign policy issues, Prof. David Dewitt continued from Prof. Kirton, but did not comment on Mr. Rae's points. Believing that Canadian values and interests can make a difference, Prof. Dewitt presented his observations and also offered points composed by his colleagues. Prof. Dewitt introduced a main theme of the night, that Canadians maintain diverse values and interests, and with a changing demographics, Canada's key challenge in foreign policy would be learning how to weigh and adapt competing values and interests. Observing that globalization caused many foreign policy issues to become domestic ones, Prof. Dewitt stressed a link between viewing issues abroad as issues also affecting immigrants and refugees at home in Canada. Finally, Prof. Dewitt also highlighted the undercapitalization of multilateral and bilateral relationships post-WWII, and stressed that many of the institutions remain under resourced.
 
The discussion then opened up to the CIC-Toronto members in the audience. To create stronger Canadian foreign affairs strategies, many observations reflected similar points and included the following: i) reforming and rebuilding DFAIT so as to create greater political leverage with Canadian-based concerns, ii) establishing a greater geographical focus in the Arctic, iii) building stronger task forces that will rebuild capacity for analytical reporting, effective advocacy and direct lines of communication to those most influential, such as countries where we are represented, so as to match the capacity of other G8 states, and finally, iv) a greater coordination with the European Union, especially on foreign policy and security issues.
 
The observations linked to an interesting theme: that Canada must learn how to articulate key interests and link these interests with Canadian values before turning outward to determine capacity, political leverage, or strategies that would reform multilateral institutions at home and abroad. If Canadians collaborate with our elected officials to express clear values and comprehensive interests that identify Canadian themes, then Canadian officials can take next steps to accomplish future foreign policy goals.
 
Roundtable comments included the following:
  1. A greater need for utilizing Canadian diplomacy for peace.
  2. Canada should move away from supporting the American economy and develop new independent strategies for addressing problems with multilateralism in a post-1945 world.
  3. Canada should focus on accountability when addressing political and economic connections with other sovereign states.
  4. When determining defence policies and how Canada may play a role in conflicts abroad, Canada should set clear military capacity goals, as well as addressing capacity post-conflict for improved regional stability. For example, post-2011, what will DFAIT's capacity be in Afghanistan? This also ties into increasing respect for Canadian combat and peacekeeping capabilities. Canadians should address future tools and not rely on tools procured in previous generations to determine obligations and responsibilities. To this, Canadians must ask what investments should be made and what kind of role should Canada aspire for: specialized/general; ombudsman; liaison?
  5. Canadian relations should not rely on old orthodoxies and "shame tactics" to improve relations with countries such as India, China, and Pakistan. This ties into a need to clearly define Canadian values and interests so that we may address future economic arrangements. Canadian leaders should approach relations with clear lines: not to associate fluff and politics when discussing business, and not wave past mistakes when attempting to improve ties.
  6. If we cannot establish a clear Canadian identify and select a government that will properly represent is, we must be mindful of the negative light this will cast on future relations. Foreign policy and nuclear trade, India relations, are identified as a key example for how the Canadian image has been hurt already.
  7. Addressing the appeasement factor - Canadian foreign policy must account for a growing multicultural approach, and move beyond old Anglophone ideals that no longer hold Canadian values.
Consensus:
 
At the conclusion, a summary of the proceedings was offered, and the moderator asked whether these were the topics the membership would like to see reflected in next year's programming. These issues included:
  1. Canada should demonstrate leadership and independence in the making and the direction of its foreign policy.
  2. Canada may have some common core values, but distinct regional interests. What is the face of Canada to the outside world? Do they perceive Canada as a unit or distinct areas? Are there too many voices? Should Canada have one voice? There is a need to balance core values while being aware of regional differences.
  3. Canadian foreign policy should be a force for justice in the world.
  4. To grapple with Canada's foreign policy priorities – Canadians must resolve: 1) What we need to do (to meet our international commitments), 2) What we should do (to advance our national priorities / including a balance between economic interests with a just society) 3) What we have the capacity to do, or are prepared to develop the capacity to do.
The key is that Canada has choices. While maintaining sovereignty, Canada must address future decisions and manage incoherence. The group expressed their satisfaction with these four points forming the basis of 2010-2011 programming for CIC Toronto Branch.
 
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