EMBASSYCANADA’S FOREIGN POLICY NEWSWEEKLY OTTAWA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2010 ISSUE 338 • $3.00 ENVIRONMENT EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PETER KENT page 14 ‘PRINCIPLED’ APPROACH FIVE YEARS LATER, THE TERM ENDURES page 15 CHARTER IS THE GOVERNMENT PREPARING ITS CASE? page 16 THE BORDER A NEW ROUND OF ARGUING ERUPTS page 5 This session’s burning foreign affairs issues As the House returns and election talk heats up, the economy, budget freezes, stealth fighter jets and human smuggling will take centre stage. finishing a campaign platform, and Bloc Québécois budget get through Parliament. Could one of the Lee Berthiaume Leader Gilles Duceppe is touring la belle province three opposition parties prop up the Harper govern- to shore up support. ment again? fter a relatively quiet Christmas break, it looks Of course, such speculation has emerged before. A number of foreign policy and international Alike all four political parties are getting ready for In September 2009, the Liberals said they were going issues will see their importance increase or decrease Publications Mail Agreement #40068926 a spring election. The Conservatives and Liberals to bring down the government. The NDP and Bloc depending on whether an election is called or not. both have attack ads out, the NDP is reportedly waffled. Then the Liberals let last year’s omnibus Continued on Page 10 AID Foreign policy priorities Canada, Qatar clash over MUSKOKA INITIATIVE TRANSPARENCY Palestine reference DEMANDED at times a moving target relations with which were already Anca Gurzu page 4 Over the ensuing five years, ana- strained because of the country’s dis- Carl Meyer lysts say those concrete foundations pute with the United Arab Emirates of the government’s approach to for- atari officials have publicly blast- and its staunchly pro-Israel policies. hen the Harper government first eign affairs have remained in place. Qed Canada, accusing it of throw- Launched at the G8 summit in 2004 Wbegan getting its feet wet in 2006, The military has seen progressively ing a wrench into a three-day summit in Sea Island, the Broader Middle East FOREIGN it consistently emphasized three main higher budgets; the government between G8 and Arab countries last and North Africa Initiative is a multilat- foreign policy priorities: Canada need- has tried to lobby the Americans week by refusing to include a Palestine eral program aimed at “enhancing an INVESTMENT ed a re-invigoration of relations with the as well as support their priorities reference in the final statement. open and inclusive dialogue between CHINA WILL BE United States; a restoration of its lost whenever possible; and each year Although Canadian officials have governments and civil society on LOOKING FOR CLARITY military pride; and the establishment of it has hacked away at more of the said negotiations are still ongoing, the issues of political and economic reform a more business-friendly economy that Canadian tax regime. incident has highlighted mounting fric- and human development” in order to page 8 would attract foreign investment. Continued on Page 12 tion between Canada and the region, Continued on Page 4 EMBASSY, Wednesday, January 26, 2011—2 Diplomacy This Week Americas, Israel get the telephone treatment Talking Points The ‘Year of India’ takes off Don’t wait for US green: Panel AVINASH GAVAI Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s visit A new report from the National Roundtable to India in late 2009 culminated in a deci- on Environment and the Economy concludes Chatter House sion to name 2011 as the “Year of India” in that Canada should not wait for the United Canada, a bi-governmental initiative that States to start tackling climate change, CBC n acquaintance of Chatter House has already seen considerable expenditure, News reported. The government-appointed living in the bellwether riding of planning and logistical effort taking place panel said Canada is putting its own emissions Peterborough, Ont., about an hour throughout last year. reductions targets—17 per cent below 2005 north of Toronto, recently received The “Year of India” is significant as it levels by 2020—in jeopardy. It said the country A should create a carbon cap and trade system an interesting phone call. It was from a com- symbolizes the growing importance of pany that was conducting a survey. Pretty political and economic ties between both and limit the price of a tonne of carbon to no standard stuff, so far. But then came the first Photo: Sam Garcia countries. The only comparable exercise more than $30 more than in the US. question: “Do you know what the Americas is?” was a Year of India in Russia that took place Those who follow Canadian foreign policy Embassy in 2008, and that was a far less extravagant Tories blamed for UAE spat know the Harper government has put a spe- Ernie Regehr speaking at the ceremony. affair than what will purportedly take place Former prime minister Jean Chrétien and cial emphasis on strengthening economic in the Great White North. Ontario Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello both and political ties in its hemispheric neigh- Peace Prize in 1957, knew quite a bit about The celebrations officially kicked off lashed out at the Conservative government bourhood. But apparently someone out there both peace and the difficult means through on Jan. 24, with the establishment of an for engaging in bad politics with the UAE, the wants to know how much average Canadians which it often could be achieved. India chair at the recently formed Canada- Globe and Mail and Montreal Gazette reported. are following the issue. That is why the United Nations Association India Centre for Excellence in Science, Mr. Chrétien made his remarks at a conference It’s unclear whether the government com- in Canada decided to name a prestigious Technology, Trade and Policy at Carleton in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while Ms. Pupatello is missioned the survey or the opposition or honour after him recognizing noble pursuits University. visiting the Gulf region, including the UAE for even a university. A Foreign Affairs spokes- towards the betterment of the world. Indian High Commissioner SM Gavai and four days, on a trade trip. woman said in an email that the department On Jan. 21, peace and nuclear disarma- Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte “consults with Canadians on a wide range ment activist Ernie Regehr became the inked an MOU, which is the latest initiative Tunisian presidential family probed of policy issues and to evaluate government first recipient of the distinguished Pearson in a series of growing collaborative efforts Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says programs” and that an Americas survey was Peace Medal since Senator Roméo Dallaire between the two countries. his department is looking into whether some “initiated” in 2008 to gauge public opinion. received one in 2004. In a ceremony hosted Mr. Gavai said the aim is to “showcase family members of exiled Tunisian president No word on whether it continued or not. by Gov. Gen. David Johnston, honourary India’s rich art and culture, as well as its Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who have fled to However, if it was the government, some of patron of the medal, at Rideau Hall, Mr. rapid rise as an economic power, thereby Canada have forfeited their permanent resi- the questions were extremely telling, including: Regehr’s contribution was fêted in style. promoting closer people-to-people ties dency status here, the National Post reported. “Should Canada help monitor the drug trade in Mr. Regehr helped start Project Plough- across a broad range of educational, busi- Permanent residents must live in Canada for Mexico?” “Should we be involved in helping to shares, a church-backed peace organization ness and other social sectors.” at least two years within a five-year period, democratize Latin America?” and “Should we in 1976, and even today, at 69, is widely The “Year of India” will see an incred- but critics of Mr. Ben Ali say his family mem- continue aid to Haiti?” sought after by experts, academics, dip- ible range of cultural, business and bers could not have possibly done so. The last question was particularly interest- lomats and even foreign governments in a educational conferences and festivities ing. There are no indications Canada is looking wide range of strategic fields. take place across nine Canadian cities to pull out of Haiti, but $550 million in aid com- According to UNA-Canada, Mr. Regehr—also Canadian favourite in scandal throughout 2011, including the cornerstone The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, mitted in 2006 is slated to run out this year. a contributor to this paper—was recognized International Indian Film Academy awards There’s obviously been millions more pledged “for his important contributions to the national Tuberculosis and Malaria, to which Canada (the Indian version of the Oscars) that will committed $540 million last year for a total of since last January’s earthquake, but could how and international dialogue on disarmament and be held in Toronto in June. This will mark Canadians respond to the question decide peace…. He is a seasoned and tenacious advo- $1.5 billion since 2001, is under investigation the first time the ceremony, which has following reports of significant corruption, the whether the next pledge is big or small? cate of the causes of nuclear disarmament in travelled all around the world, will arrive Either way, this isn’t the first instance of tele- particular, arms control in general, and sustain- Canadian Press reported. Internal investigations in North America. found the fund had lost $34 million in some phone calls pertaining to international affairs able approaches to human security and peace.” [email protected] being made. On Jan. 13, reporter Dale Smith Mr.