Canada’s foreign policy should stop believing in its own fables – and look Down Under

[shockedcanadian]

One of the reasons Canada doesn't speak out, is that Canadas human right record is abysmal. They know that the world is well aware of how we operate domestically, with massively funded, covert police agencies destroying lives.

Tough to wag a finger as a declining middle power when the world knows what you do to your own citizens and in your workplaces which you promote as being "free market".

It's also tough to read this article written by a former Stephen Harper aide though, he was ultimately a big disappointment at a time when he had potential. He could have been the Trump before Trump, but he lacked the stones. He did bring his ideology though.


Opinion: Canada’s foreign policy should stop believing in its own fables – and look Down Under

It is not often that foreign policy becomes a point of discussion across Canada. But a convergence of recent events – China’s bogus espionage charges for Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, and Canada’s failed bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council – have given lie to the notion that soft diplomacy is an effective approach for us.

Those events have opened a space for a long overdue conversation about how Canada can best exert its influence around the world – and why we’re so mired in the myths of our past, rather than the challenges of the future.

There has been a persistent fairy tale about Canada’s place in the world that dates back to the end of the Second World War, when we boasted the third-largest navy and fourth-largest Allied air force. We were a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949, and spent blood and treasure during the Korean War in the early 1950s. Canada was punching above its weight.

But in the six decades since, that cherished legacy has become more a matter of perception than fact. We’re not contributing through the United Nations – we rank 77th on that front – or vaunted peacekeeping missions. So, where do we go from here?


There are examples to draw upon. Australia, for instance, has begun to carve out a robust niche for itself as a middle power by speaking truth to China. It was the first country to ask for an inquiry into how the novel coronavirus started and spread around the world. The Australian government is also devoting money to its national defense, outspending Canada by close to $20-billion.

 

[toobfreak]

One of the reasons Canada doesn't speak out, is that Canadas human right record is abysmal. They know that the world is well aware of how we operate domestically, with massively funded, covert police agencies destroying lives.

Tough to wag a finger as a declining middle power when the world knows what you do to your own citizens and in your workplaces which you promote as being "free market".

It's tough to hear this article written by a former Stephen Harper aide though, he was ultimately a big disappointment at a time when he had potential. He could have been the Trump before Trump, but he lacked the stones. He did bring his ideology though.


Opinion: Canada’s foreign policy should stop believing in its own fables – and look Down Under

It is not often that foreign policy becomes a point of discussion across Canada. But a convergence of recent events – China’s bogus espionage charges for Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, and Canada’s failed bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council – have given lie to the notion that soft diplomacy is an effective approach for us.

Those events have opened a space for a long overdue conversation about how Canada can best exert its influence around the world – and why we’re so mired in the myths of our past, rather than the challenges of the future.

There has been a persistent fairy tale about Canada’s place in the world that dates back to the end of the Second World War, when we boasted the third-largest navy and fourth-largest Allied air force. We were a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949, and spent blood and treasure during the Korean War in the early 1950s. Canada was punching above its weight.

But in the six decades since, that cherished legacy has become more a matter of perception than fact. We’re not contributing through the United Nations – we rank 77th on that front – or vaunted peacekeeping missions. So, where do we go from here?


There are examples to draw upon. Australia, for instance, has begun to carve out a robust niche for itself as a middle power by speaking truth to China. It was the first country to ask for an inquiry into how the novel coronavirus started and spread around the world. The Australian government is also devoting money to its national defense, outspending Canada by close to $20-billion.

I have to say SC, that I both know that Canada is one F'ed up place with totally failing/failed progressive-socialist policies and most Canadians I've known are afraid of their own shadows as though there was a bug and TV camera in their room watching them every minute of the day! That is why I find you one of the most refreshing and interesting, fact-charged people to read here on this forum.

 

[shockedcanadian]

One of the reasons Canada doesn't speak out, is that Canadas human right record is abysmal. They know that the world is well aware of how we operate domestically, with massively funded, covert police agencies destroying lives.

Tough to wag a finger as a declining middle power when the world knows what you do to your own citizens and in your workplaces which you promote as being "free market".

It's tough to hear this article written by a former Stephen Harper aide though, he was ultimately a big disappointment at a time when he had potential. He could have been the Trump before Trump, but he lacked the stones. He did bring his ideology though.


Opinion: Canada’s foreign policy should stop believing in its own fables – and look Down Under

It is not often that foreign policy becomes a point of discussion across Canada. But a convergence of recent events – China’s bogus espionage charges for Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, and Canada’s failed bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council – have given lie to the notion that soft diplomacy is an effective approach for us.

Those events have opened a space for a long overdue conversation about how Canada can best exert its influence around the world – and why we’re so mired in the myths of our past, rather than the challenges of the future.

There has been a persistent fairy tale about Canada’s place in the world that dates back to the end of the Second World War, when we boasted the third-largest navy and fourth-largest Allied air force. We were a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949, and spent blood and treasure during the Korean War in the early 1950s. Canada was punching above its weight.

But in the six decades since, that cherished legacy has become more a matter of perception than fact. We’re not contributing through the United Nations – we rank 77th on that front – or vaunted peacekeeping missions. So, where do we go from here?


There are examples to draw upon. Australia, for instance, has begun to carve out a robust niche for itself as a middle power by speaking truth to China. It was the first country to ask for an inquiry into how the novel coronavirus started and spread around the world. The Australian government is also devoting money to its national defense, outspending Canada by close to $20-billion.

I have to say SC, that I both know that Canada is one F'ed up place with totally failing/failed progressive-socialist policies and most Canadians I've known are afraid of their own shadows as though there was a bug and TV camera in their room watching them every minute of the day! That is why I find you one of the most refreshing and interesting, fact-charged people to read here on this forum.

Well, due to my battle with my government, it's tough to take comfort even in kind words or even to trust online interactions, but thanks I guess.

Bottom line is that Canada has done great damage to ourselves over decades of abuse. The same type of complaint Trump makes about U.S leaders is also true here, but it's even further magnified. My points of contention have been on three key jurisdictions from smaller to larger: Toronto, Ontario and Canada.

There is a symbiosis relationship between different levels of government, one issue remains sadly uniform across them all: we lose our best talent, we don't innovate, we don't demand civil liberties and accountability of police and government, and, as a result, we can NOT stand strong Internationally as we lack credibility. Thus jeopardizes national security and the lives of our citizens when they travel.

Over a decade ago I spoke up directly to my government, that was when Harper was in power. I speak up now also, and although I get a few more ears, our system still refuses to adapt. We've seen England go from a Super Power to a Middle Power, we somehow believe we can avoid this by not actually being critical of ourselves and more importantly CHANGING, but, in continuing down the same path. The very definition of insanity.

It would be different if it were so principled a path that it was worth fighting for, but we have lost that hill long ago. The very essence of our key problems in fact. Even if we spent money internationally, it will make little difference when we don't walk the walk.