THE IGNATIEFF ENIGMA
$6.00 LRCLiterary Review of Canada Vol. 14, No. 5 • June 2006
Lowell Murray Born-again bilingualism Peter Desbarats Suzuki under his own microscope Suanne Kelman Death and diamonds in Sierra Leone Arthur Kroeger Gomery vs. Harper on accountability David Laidler Why monetary union with the U.S. won’t work Elspeth Cameron Atwood as scientist
+ David Biette on Canada in the world+ Dennis Duffy on building Canada + Ingeborg Boyens on genetically modified wheat + Paul Wells on jazz writing + Lawrence Hill on Joe Fiorito’s Toronto + Poetry by Olive Senior, Karen McElrea and Joe Cummings + Fiction reviews by Graham Harley and Tomasz Mrozewski + Responses from Marcel Côté, Gordon Gibson and David Chernushenko ADDRESS Literary Review of Canada 581 Markham Street, Suite 3A Toronto, Ontario m6g 2l7 e-mail: [email protected] LRCLiterary Review of Canada reviewcanada.ca T: 416 531-1483 Vol. 14, No. 5 • June 2006 F: 416 531-1612
EDITOR Bronwyn Drainie 3 Beyond Shame and Outrage 18 Astronomical Talent [email protected] An essay A review of Fabrizio’s Return, by Mark Frutkin ASSISTANT EDITOR Timothy Brennan Graham Harley Alastair Cheng 6 Death and Diamonds 19 A Dystopic Debut CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Anthony Westell A review of A Dirty War in West Africa: The RUF and A review of Zed, by Elizabeth McClung the Destruction of Sierra Leone, by Lansana Gberie Tomasz Mrozewski ASSOCIATE EDITOR Robin Roger Suanne Kelman 20 Scientist, Activist or TV Star? POETRY EDITOR 8 Making Connections A review of David Suzuki: The Autobiography Molly Peacock A review of Building Canada: People and Projects that Peter Desbarats ASSISTANT POETRY EDITOR Shaped the Nation, by Jonathan Vance Moira MacDougall Dennis Duffy 22 NAMU and the Neoliberals A review of Towards North American Monetary Union? COPY EDITOR Madeline Koch 9 Accountability: Three Approaches The Politics and History of Canada’s Exchange Rate An essay Regime, by Eric Helleiner PROOFREADERS Ted Brown, Alastair Cheng, Cassandra Arthur Kroeger David Laidler Drudi, Madeline Koch, Claire Laville, Beth 12 Jazz in Strange Places 24 Living under the Radar MacKinnon, Lorna MacPhee A review of Some Hustling This! Taking Jazz to the A review of Union Station: Love, Madness, Sex RESEARCH World, 1914–1929, by Mark Miller and Survival on the Streets of the New Toronto, Cassandra Drudi Paul Wells by Joe Fiorito PUBLICITY Lawrence Hill Jennifer Long 13 Born-Again Bilingualism [email protected] A review of Sorry, I Don’t Speak French: 25 “Whatever Happened to Canada?” DESIGN Confronting the Canadian Crisis That Won’t Go Away, A review of Canada Among Nations 2005: Split Images, James Harbeck by Graham Fraser edited by Andrew F. Cooper and Dane Rowlands, ADVERTISING/SALES Lowell Murray and In the Canadian Interest? Assessing Canada’s Michael Wile Phone: 416-531-1483 • Cell: 416-806-6178 International Policy Statement, edited by David J. [email protected] 16 Hatch Bercuson and Denis Stairs Shelter PUBLISHERS David N. Biette Mark Lovewell Garden Snail [email protected] Gastropoda 28 The Wal-Mart-ization of Wheat Helen Walsh A review of The Economics of Genetically Modified [email protected] At The Slave Museum Wheat, by Colin Carter, Derek Berwald and Al Loyns Poems Ingeborg Boyens Olive Senior ADVISORY COUNCIL 29 Scientist of the Human Heart Michael Adams Ronald G. Atkey, P.C., Q.C. 17 Progression of the Disease A review of The Tent, by Margaret Atwood A poem Alan Broadbent, C.M. Elspeth Cameron James Gillies, C.M. Karen McElrea 31 Letters & Responses Carol Hansell 17 Bright Light Donald Macdonald, P.C., C.C. Marcel Côté, Gordon Gibson, David Trina McQueen A poem Chernushenko Grant Reuber, O.C. Joe Cummings Don Rickerd, C.M. Reed Scowen Anthony Westell
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2 Literary Review of Canada “Whatever Happened to Canada?” The world sees a lack of leadership in Canadian foreign policy. David N. Biette
predictable, if all of Canada read from the same the United States is either a curse on Canadian Canada Among Nations 2005: Split Images page about Canadian objectives in the world and decision making or a valuable partner in a variety Andrew F. Cooper and Dane Rowlands, editors if past glories guided current practice. But the of areas. McGill-Queen’s University Press world has changed and so has Canada. The end All the essayists emphasize that the world has pages, softcover of the Cold War has shifted alliances; the United changed since the end of the Cold War, and they States emerged as the only superpower. Threats are right. The glory days of to , when now come from private actors as well as from Canada seemed to make a place for itself and was In the Canadian Interest? Assessing Canada’s state actors. Globalization and the explosion of welcomed on the world stage, when prominent International Policy Statement communications technologies have made the Canadians excelled in the exercise of diplomacy, David J. Bercuson and Denis Stairs, editors world a smaller place, calling for new methods of are now history. The decline in Canada’s global Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute dealing with these new challenges. influence and its foreign policy drift are well pages, PDF It would also certainly be easier in the minds described by Andrew Cohen in his book
June 2006 25 North American space whether Canada wants it Canadians want to have with the United States. as having a position of respect or privilege in or not, thus guaranteeing the northern nation’s Most authors in the two collections agree that Washington. By being different for the sake of security and prosperity. Canada’s relationship with the United States is, being different, Canada has let itself become David Bercuson, co-editor of In the Canadian like it or not, the most important relationship irrelevant in Washington, a situation, notes Interest, comments that following drastic cuts Canada has. The bilateral relationship should Burney, where Canadians perversely see that in defence and foreign policy assets in the s never be taken for granted. Burney, whose expe- being peripheral in Washington implies a sort of and s, Canada’s contribution to a “new rience with the United States is long and deep, independence from the Americans. world order” was to be “idea-based, via treaties, says it “requires dedicated, high-level effort The United States, however, should not serve tribunals and fervent rhetoric about human (as and should be the prime minister’s over-riding as the only reliable market for Canadian trade, opposed to national) security.” Thus, he says, foreign policy priority.” At the same time, he commercial activity and investment. Canada “fewer assets would be needed in a world where acknowledges that such focus has limited popular needs to have a diversity of trading partners; it is reason alone might prevail. Canada’s diplomatic, support at home. As noted in the introduction to not either-or, and should not be at the expense development, and defence assets were allowed to In the Canadian Interest, the Canada-U.S. rela- of a generally exceptional relationship with the rot from the inside just as Canada’s international tionship is loaded with politics and is electorally United States. finger wagging grew more frenetic.” inconvenient in Canada. Split Images offers several chapters on other The foreign policy review leading up to the Canadian policy in the global context is driven global opportunities for Canada, particularly IPS was long overdue. Previous statements talked less by necessity than by preference; this is not with Brazil, Russia, India and China. Each coun- about promoting values, essentially ignoring true of Canada-U.S. relations. Appropriate policy try, in its own way, deserves respect and should interests, and the exercise leading up to the toward the United States is an imperative, despite be treated as an equal. “There is no room for IPS was a tortured journey in which the prime the relative paucity of attention given to this positions of moral superiority,” as Annette Hester minister brought in an outsider, Jennifer Welsh relationship in the IPS compared to other areas says in her chapter on Brazil. New links with (who opens the Split Images book), to craft the of the world. Canadian foreign policy needs to each of these countries would strengthen mul- piece. While rationalizing intelligently the “inter- engage the United States, not construct ill-suited tilateral organizations (such as the Organization ests versus values” debate, Welsh does agree that mechanisms for the sole purpose of tying down of American States) and give Canada a much many of the values Canada promotes abroad American power. While emotionally satisfying to desired greater independence from the United are values Canada shares with the States. Bogdan Burudu and Drago United States, including democracy, Popa in their chapter on Russia the rule of law, human rights and an Being different from the United ask whether, in a unipolar world, enhanced role for the private sector Canada can achieve more on its in development. Derek Burney in In States for the sake of being different own with Russia, or alongside the the Canadian Interest remarks that United States as a partner (on the the “somewhat sentimental atti- is irresponsible and an abdication of other hand, Reid Morden in In tude about our place in the world” the Canadian Interest? criticizes is not preparing Canadians for the the national interest. the IPS overtures toward Russia as complexities of globalization or “disingenuous fluff” not worthy the threats to Canada’s economic well-being.” some, such policies avoid tackling “the problem.” of comment). Ramesh Kumar and Nigmendra The new prime minister seems more focused It must be remembered that acknowledging Narain argue that Canada has been too cautious as he takes the reins of government, though none importance does not imply agreement—far from in responding to opportunities in the Indian of Stephen Harper’s five points concern foreign it. If Canada’s relationship with the United States economy; they argue, too, that Canada needs to policy; he has, however, been heard to imply that is indeed its most important foreign relationship accept India as a nuclear power and work with it a sixth is improving relations with the United (argued by some in each collection, questioned in as an equal. Canada needs to be cautious with States, something he is likely to have more success Split Images), it does not necessarily follow that China, according to Paul Evans, since on a vari- with than his immediate predecessors. this is Canada’s only foreign relationship, nor is ety of issues (human rights and environmental Bercuson expresses a sense of relief that the the United States/rest-of-the-world dynamic a issues, for example) Canadian and Chinese views IPS says policy is to be guided by “interests.” zero-sum game. The Bush administration has diverge. (How, in a liberal democracy, could it be other- certainly not been popular with the vast majority George Haynal offers a concise yet compre- wise? he asks.) of Canadians, and the Chrétien and Martin gov- hensive chapter on Mexico in In the Canadian About half of In the Canadian Interest is ernments made a point of letting the public—as Interest and questions why Mexico has not been devoted to defence issues; George Macdonald’s well as Americans and the global community— the focus of Canadian immigration, defence comments on the Defence Policy Statement, know how distasteful they found much of recent and business cooperation programs. He points which focuses on domestic security issues and American foreign policy. The new Harper gov- out, quite aptly, the ever more influential role the obligation of the government to protect ernment has carefully said that the United States Mexican Americans will play in American life, Canada and Canadians, discuss the Canada is a friend to Canada, notably in the remarkably something Canadians should pay close attention Command and the need for Canadians to under- concise throne speech in early April. to. Curiously, though, neither collection takes on stand that Canadian soil is considered a theatre of Being different from the United States for the concept of North America. operations. James Fergusson argues that Canada the sake of being different is irresponsible and The IPS states frankly that there is only so Command is not just national, but is a command an abdication of the national interest. Letting much that Canada, as one nation, can accom- for Canada in all of North America. Additionally, foreign policy be driven by public opinion (par- plish. Kim Richard Nossal in In the Canadian domestic security in Canada has implications for ticularly when public opinion is an emotional Interest, calls the IPS’s “Responsibilities Agenda” mutual Canada-U.S. security and the Canada- reaction to whatever George W. Bush does) dishonest since Canadians and their government U.S. relationship. Fergusson also says that a coor- shows a lack of leadership. This was particularly have “neither the means nor the will to make dinated crisis response on a north-south axis is evident in the debate over Canada’s potential par- much more than the smallest dent” in the ills of more practical than east-west. He notes that the ticipation in ballistic missile defence, something the world, and asks the government to be more ballistic missile defence decision created uncer- the government had requested before it let the honest with Canadians and the international tainty, particularly in the United States, about the public opinion tail wag the foreign policy dog. community about where it can actually make a direction of Canadian foreign policy. If the government changes policies at the whims difference. Joseph Jockel and Joel Sokolsky write in Split of public opinion, how reliably will Canada be There are clear trade-offs to be made and it Images that “Ottawa cannot adopt positions that viewed? is plain that Canada can no longer do foreign pander to anti-American sentiment in Canada The challenge for Canada is to balance very policy on the cheap. Short-term bursts of activity by openly challenging U.S. policies overseas and carefully a constructive relationship with the will not get the job done. Morden asks whether expect to maintain Washington’s trust and confi- United States with the desire of Canadians to Canada has, or will have, the wherewithal in dence in Canada as a reliable partner in terms of have a distinct role in global affairs. I agree with money, people and interests to pursue the “con- helping to secure the American homeland.” Derek Burney here: these two goals are not mutu- ceit” of the far-reaching IPS. He says, “the modest Much of the foreign policy debate in Canada ally exclusive, and Canada can often have greater replenishment of foreign policy assets posited revolves around what kind of relationship, if any, influence in global affairs when it is perceived in the IPS will not even begin to re-establish
26 Literary Review of Canada Canada’s standing or engagement in the mul- policy.” Tom Axworthy looks at the IPS in the titude of issues and places where we will sup- context of the changes seen in the Canadian for- posedly be working with renewed and enhanced eign policy establishment and, in one of the few The LRC Literary fervour.” outright recommendations in Split Images, advo- If Split Images is more hopeful, In the Canadian cates that public diplomacy must be a central tool Marketplace Interest is pessimistic. The latter volume presents in modern foreign policy. To place your own ad, contact Michael Wile at a blunt critique of all aspects of the IPS that, like What the new Conservative government will [email protected] or 416 531 1483 other policy reviews, allows new prime ministers carry forward remains an open question and to distance themselves from predecessors. In the another national debate on foreign policy seems Canadian Interest does not pretend to offer a unlikely in the short run. The Harper govern- broad spectrum of national views on foreign pol- ment has made overtures to the United States icy. The six chapters on defence are very specifi c. and perhaps an effort will be made to get a better C’est What? Among those authors not already mentioned, understanding about how U.S. policy is formed, Get the Inside Story on the Rob Huebert discusses whether failed states are who makes it, who infl uences it and how it plays really the core threat to Canada. Jack Granatstein out, not only for the government and the civil Montreal Review of Books gives a serious analysis of nearly every aspect of service, but scholars, too: Daniel Drache, for Montreal’s Quarterly Review of the Canadian Forces; his recommendation for example, while close to brilliant in his analysis of Books and Writing in Quebec Parliamentary approval for overseas deployment the Canadian scene in his chapter in Split Images, To Subscribe call 514-932-5633 of the Canadian Forces echoes the chapter in misses the mark completely when he talks about Split Images by Gerald Schmitz and James Lee, the United States. [email protected] who argue quite strongly for a greater role for By engaging with the United States and oppor- Parliament in foreign policy and defence policy tunities elsewhere, Canada can begin to have its development. cake and eat it too. Canadian foreign policy needs Split Images often veers into the “if only we realistic direction, strong leadership from the top, St. Cecilia Concert Series didn’t have to deal with the United States” mode; discernment and the moral and fi nancial support Nova Scotia’s Premiere Canada does not seem ready, as Australia was, of Canadians to get the job done. Taken together, to make the United States a focus of its foreign Split Images and In the Canadian Interest may Concert Stage policy, as described by Nossal in Split Images. help inform the next policy debate.m Now in Our 17th Season Presenting Louis Bélanger questions the reconceptualization Canada’s Best Concert Artists of trade policy to a more domestically oriented Note For schedules and tickets call “international commerce” policy, and argues 1 Robert Kagan (2002), “Power and Weakness,” Policy that Canada should “build on its national inter- Review, No. 113, June and July
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