Canadian Foreign Policy

Nine New Takes on Canada’s International Future 0
- Analysis
- June 2, 2014
On May 23-24, CIPS and the Canadian International Council (CIC) co-hosted the Ottawa Forum, which brought together a remarkable array of presenters, commenters and attendees to the University of Ottawa to discuss the future of Canada’s international policy. The …
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Imagining a More Ambitious Canada 0
- Analysis
- June 2, 2014
By Taylor Owen and Roland Paris

Published in the Ottawa Citizen, June 2, 2014

The world has undergone enormous changes since Ottawa last conducted a foreign policy review nearly a decade ago: the rise of China and other emerging …
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Is Canada Pulling Its Weight in NATO?0
- Analysis
- May 9, 2014
When NATO’s military commander, General Philip Breedlove, visited Ottawa this week, he noted that Canada was one of the first countries to contribute military equipment and forces to NATO’s temporary deployment of land, sea and air assets to Eastern Europe, …
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An Ex-CIDA Officer’s Reflections on Afghanistan: Looking Back, Looking Forward 0
- Analysis
- March 13, 2014
The departure of Canadian troops from Afghanistan does not mark the end of Canadian aid to that country. To move forward, however, Canada must accept the strategic mistakes of the past and record the lessons learned, not only to avoid …
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In Dispute with Muslim Organization, PMO Wrong to Allege Skeletons in Closet 0
- Analysis
- February 27, 2014
Published in the Toronto Star, February 26, 2014

Never forget: these are charged words for Canada’s ethnic or religious groups when it comes to keeping alive the memory of historical atrocities “back home.” But they’re also charged words, in …
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Aid Budgets or Poverty Reduction? Worry About the Right Priority First 0
- Analysis
- February 20, 2014
The federal government announced a 7.5% cut in Canada’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) budget for the fiscal year 2012. In addition, former CIDA funds not spent (and thus lapsed) represented close to 10% of CIDA’s aid budget for 2012. The …
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Off to Tel Aviv: The Latest Strange Diplomatic Appointment 0
- Analysis
- February 12, 2014
Shortly before the Prime Minister’s January trip to the Middle East, the Harper Government announced its choice to fill Canada’s long-vacant ambassadorial chair in Tel Aviv. Vivian Bercovici—a Toronto lawyer, occasional commentator on Israeli affairs and backroom Tory loyalist—is the …
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Has Canada Finally Discovered Digital Diplomacy?0
- Analysis
- February 7, 2014
After years of sitting on the sidelines, Canada finally seems to be taking social media seriously as tool of diplomacy. Foreign Minister John Baird delivered a speech on Friday—appropriately in Silicon Valley, the world’s capital of technological innovation—embracing digital diplomacy …
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When Policy Coherence is a Bad Thing 0
- Analysis
- February 3, 2014
In July 2013, when the government abolished the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and transferred its functions to the newly renamed Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), it did so mainly in the name of policy coherence. The …
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Belief, Not Principle, Guiding Canada’s Mideast Policy 0
- Analysis
- January 24, 2014
There has been a good deal of debate regarding Prime Minister Harper’s visit to Israel, and in particular his speech to the Israeli Knesset. Supporters of the government trumpet what they see as a triumphant Prime Ministerial tour, one that …
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Canada and Bangladesh: Beyond Rana Plaza 0
- Analysis
- January 20, 2014
By Alicia Dobson and Stephen Baranyi

This essay, along with the ones by Yiagadeesen (Teddy) Samy and by Syed Sajjadur Rahman, arose out of the Bangladesh: Out of Fragility symposium held at the University of Ottawa on November 26, …
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Why is Ottawa Accelerating its International Aid Budget Cuts by Stealth?0
- Analysis
- January 14, 2014
by Bruce Montador

The Harper government started two years ago to cut back on official development assistance (ODA), announcing in 2012 a three-year series of cuts (even if Canada is among the donor countries least under fiscal pressure to cut …
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