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Question 1: The 1995 Policy Review and SinceWhich 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: | efuchs |
| Date: |
2003-05-01 12:53:31 |
| Answer: |
Canada's foreign policy should be coherent with its internal policy, both of which should allow for ongoing participatory democracy in having the current policy questioned and re-shaped, not just once for a few months, but as an ongoing process.
Foreign policy should not be based just on trade relations and economic values, but put more weight on respect for human rights and social justice in all its aspects.
It is necessary that the process of having foreign policy reflect the concerns and priorities of Canadians be one that is ongoing and that responds concretely to their input and suggestions. It should not be left only to those who are government authorities and diplomats to shape and carry out the desires of Canadians.
Also, foreign policy is about how we deal with other "nations". But I think that Canada should look at how it functions or doesn't function within the limits of what constitutes this "nation". There are certain things that in some vague manner are considered Canadian such as peacekeeping and respect for others, but even these are not reflected in Canadian society. How can we hope to improve foreign relations when within Canada there is blatant disregard for human rights and legal procedures, i.e. due process.
Just to name one example, how can we have a man, Mahmoud Jaballah, in solitary confinement for 22 months in Toronto on a security certificate (for suspicion of association with a terrorist group) without charges, and therefore no trial being heard? It is for such acts that Canada holds other in violation of human rights. And there are many more, including instances in which even Canadian citizens do not have access to the basics for survival.
So, again I emphasize a coherence between internal and foreign policy and that this be an ongoing process of consultation and response, and not just one that takes a few months. |
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