OTTAWA – Former Liberal overseas affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy says Ottawa’s present method to overseas coverage has run out of street.
“Possibly it is a good factor we’re having an election, as a result of now it is an opportunity to alter,” Axworthy instructed a Monday panel dialogue held by the Canadian Worldwide Council.
“For those who hearken to the identical music an excessive amount of … it will get slightly boring. Properly, it is not received boring right here. It actually received form of poisonous.”
Canada is ready for an election someday this 12 months and Axworthy mentioned it is a welcome likelihood to return Ottawa to its historic position of figuring out points that concern a number of nations and discovering methods to handle them.
He mentioned that would imply working with peer nations to advance shared pursuits that do not align with these of U.S. President Donald Trump — by, for instance, utilizing the Arctic Council to combat local weather change.
Trump has referred to as local weather change a hoax, just lately threatened to impose damaging tariffs on Canada and has mentioned he needs to soak up Canada and Greenland.
Meaning this 12 months’s Canadian election will likely be one of many few the place overseas coverage is a serious matter.
“We will have a change and an election that is not going to be simply selected ‘axe the tax’ or the kid profit,” Axworthy mentioned, citing frequent Conservative and Liberal speaking factors. “We will speak about a severe concern of the place does Canada go on this world.”
“That is a wholesome factor, nevertheless it additionally signifies that now we have to have some concepts,” he added.
Axworthy mentioned Canada ought to rebuild the sturdy ties it as soon as had with creating nations, equivalent to these within the Commonwealth and the Francophonie.
Leaning on these ties helped Canada host a pivotal 1996 convention that led to the Ottawa Treaty, which banned using anti-personnel mines whereas boosting Canada’s affect on the world stage.
“If there’s one form of attribute of being a Canadian, it is that now we have realized, by our personal historical past, to accommodate,” he mentioned. “We all know make issues work.”
Talking on the Monday panel, former prime minister Joe Clark mentioned Canada ought to look to previous initiatives just like the North Pacific Co-operative Safety Dialogue, a challenge led by Ottawa from 1990 to 1993 meant to assist nations kind out their safety wants after the top of the Chilly Conflict.
“Now we have to have a look at these issues the place now we have the capability to succeed, establish them intentionally, and attempt to discover the methods during which we will observe the examples” of success, he mentioned.
“Now we have the standing and the capability on this planet to have the ability to give impact to issues that others can speak about.”
Clark mentioned that would restore Canada’s standing in locations like Africa, the place Ottawa would not carry the identical colonial baggage or legacy of distrust related to nations just like the U.S. and France.
Axworthy mentioned World Affairs Canada ought to interact with the general public on diplomacy by reviving a suppose tank that studied the effectiveness of varied foreign-policy tasks, and thru an internship program to offer tons of of younger Canadians expertise in diplomatic missions overseas.
He additionally mentioned Canada must reform its electoral system in order that Parliament higher displays the Canadian public. He mentioned the present construction would not align with Ottawa’s advocacy for democracy overseas.
Axworthy additionally mentioned political events “not serve a operate of bringing individuals collectively and discussing necessary issues. They’ve change into an election machine.”
He warned in a current e-book that “a revolving door of ministers” in command of overseas coverage is undermining Ottawa’s skill to construct alliances and affect on the world stage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 28, 2025.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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