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Question 1: The 1995 Policy Review and Since

Which values and interests bear most fundamentally on Canada's foreign policy? How can Canada's foreign policy better reflect the concerns and priorities of Canadians?

 

 

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Contributor:1872
Date: 2003-05-01 09:13:41
Answer:
I will tackle the second question: "How can Canada's foreign policy better reflect the concerns and priorities of Canadians?" I think there's a fundamental problem with this question: it embodies the conflict between the priorities of Canadians and those of the rest of the world. I think in this regard we would all do well to consider this excerpt from the Dialogue Paper:

"In all this, Canadians recognize that doing what is right for others is most often in our own long-term self-interest. A cleaner, safer and healthier world will contribute to a cleaner, safer and healthier Canada. An open and prosperous global community will create new opportunities for Canadians. Our future is inextricably linked to the future of others beyond our borders."

I would only add "should" after "In all this, Canadians" at the beginning, because it seems to me that a good number of Canadians do not at all think like this, especially those who only have their wallets in mind. I certainly feel more efforts should be made at high levels to actually implement this statement in our society, to counter the US-style short-term greed and imperialism that are threatening our traditionally more caring and peace-keeping country.
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