Canadian Foreign Policy

Canada Can’t Put Human Rights on the Back Burner in 2019 0
- Analysis
- December 19, 2018
By Stéphanie Bacher

Over the past year, Canada has taken some important steps to promote and protect human rights abroad. However, the picture is not as rosy as often presented by the government, and Canada still has a long way …
READ MORE
Canada’s Security Council Campaign 0
- Analysis
- December 18, 2018
In a recent CIPS blog, also published in the Globe and Mail, my colleague Roland Paris outlined the reasons “Why Canada cares about that Security Council seat.” This blog wonders whether the world cares about Canada’s …
READ MORE
Competitive Financing: An Alternative Solution for Doing Business in China 0
- Analysis
- December 12, 2018
By John Gruetzner

Canada is currently exploring the parameters permitted under USMCA Article 32.10 for realistic mechanisms to improve its commercial position in the Chinese market.

In the Joint Outcomes of the First Canada–China Economic and Strategic Dialogue, the Government …
READ MORE
Time to Move Past the Errors of the War on Terror 0
- Analysis
- December 10, 2018
The aftermath of 9/11 produced many problems in many countries. Canadian police and security agencies made numerous mistakes as followers and participants in an ill-considered American-led War on Terror declared shortly after that tragedy. The evidence in two public inquiries …
READ MORE
Why Canada Should Care — a lot — about that UN Security Council seat 0
- Analysis
- December 3, 2018
Canada will stand for election to the United Nations Security Council in June 2020. Our competitors are Norway and Ireland. Of the three countries, two will win seats on the council and begin their two-year terms in January 2021.

There …
READ MORE
Budget Bill Will Reduce Government Accountability for Canadian Foreign Aid 0
- Analysis
- November 28, 2018
By Stephen Brown and Hunter McGill

To help ensure that Canadian foreign aid is spent on supporting people in need in developing countries — rather than things like white elephants and Canadian commercial interests — Canada has legislation that mandates …
READ MORE

Canada’s Afghanistan Aid Urgently Needs Review — But That Doesn’t Mean We Should Go It Alone 0
- Analysis
- November 28, 2018
The recent interaction of John Sopko — the American Special Inspector General of Afghanistan Reconstruction — with the Canadian media on billions of wasted aid dollars in Afghanistan has stirred Canadian public interest on the forgotten subject of Canada’s Afghanistan …
READ MORE
Learning from Taiwan’s Push to Diversify Trade Away From China 0
- Analysis
- November 28, 2018
Rather than cozying up to non-market economies, Canada should support Taiwan’s inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Trade diversification seems increasingly important to Canada, especially after US President Donald Trump’s heavy-handed negotiations on the new US–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). …
READ MORE
Sectoral Free Trade with China: Harder than it Looks 0
- Analysis
- November 12, 2018
by Philip Calvert

Canada has announced a change of tack in its pursuit of free trade with China. Instead of pursuing a broad free trade agreement, Canada will seek reductions in Chinese tariffs through bilateral sectoral agreements. The agriculture sector …
READ MORE
Lest We Forget Why We Fought World War I 0
- Analysis
- November 7, 2018
Lauchlan T. Munro

School of International Development and Global Studies

On Remembrance Day, I think of my two grandfathers and my two great uncles who served in the Canadian army in World War I. I remember their sacrifice. But I …
READ MORE
Lessons from Canadian Involvement in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States 0
- Analysis
- November 1, 2018
As Stephen Brown noted in a recent blog, much of the media commentary on the latest Peer Review of Canada’s development co-operation has focused on its recommendations to increase spending and implement the Feminist International Assistance Policy. Brown reminds …
READ MORE
Canada’s Lessons in Afghanistan Not Recorded and Not Learned: Part 1 0
- Analysis
- October 29, 2018
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko’s assessment of American lessons learned in Afghanistan is similar to that of Canada, except that our findings are not based on systematic and independent review. Canada lacks appropriate monitoring and evaluation …
READ MORE