Guest blog by Mario Renaud and Robert Letendre, November 18, 2021

Most observers of Canada’s place on the international stage will regretfully acknowledge that Canada’s foreign policy pales in comparison to what it once was. We are a long way now from a time when Lester B. Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his commitment to multilateral peacekeeping. But it is not too late to rejuvenate Canada’s voice and influence in the international community.

Recognizing our global interdependence

Globalization and countries’ ...

McLeod Group blog by Stephen Brown, October 28, 2021

The new federal Cabinet has been sworn in, with fresh faces for two of Canada’s international-facing portfolios: Mélanie Joly as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Harjit Sajjan as Minister of International Development. Both are surprising choices in unnecessary changes. The revolving doors in ministerial appointments to Global Affairs Canada just diminish the country’s international reach and influence.

Joly will be the fifth foreign minister in six years, a situation the Globe and Mail ...

October 27, 2021

Dear Lt. Col. Sajjan,

Congratulations on your re-election to Parliament and on your recent appointment as Minister of International Development. We believe that you have the skills and the opportunity to resurrect Canada’s reputation as a respected partner with developing countries and multilateral institutions for effective development cooperation. There is much to do. As long-time observers of and participants in the aid and foreign policy game in Ottawa, we humbly offer you the following unsolicited advice as you ...

McLeod Group guest blog by Andrew Dawson and Liam Swiss, September 16, 2021

Each year, Canada and other donors spend billions of dollars in foreign aid to promote the rule of law. In 2019, Canada disbursed roughly $200 million in aid targeting conflict, security, and legal and judicial reforms. Despite the large sums spent, successes have been few and far between – as reflected by the lack of concrete improvements in the level of security or in the ...

McLeod Group guest blog by Stephen Baranyi, August 30, 2021

Haiti is in the news once again. The earthquake that hit its southwestern region on August 14, causing more than 2,000 deaths, has prompted humanitarian responses from Canada and many other international partners. This tragic event followed the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7 by foreign mercenaries, allegedly financed by foreigners and prominent Haitians.

This situation leaves the country in political disarray and international engagement is ...

McLeod Group guest blog by Edward Jackson, August 16, 2021

Ghana has long been known for its moderate governance, free speech and multicultural tolerance. But a proposed new law would radically and cruelly suppress the rights of LGBTQ+ people there. Canadians should support efforts to kill this bill.

What is happening in Ghana?

For the past six months, with reckless intent, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has used the power of his office to fan the flames of anti-LGBTQ+ hate ...

McLeod Group blog by Stephen Brown, July 15, 2021

Canada’s recent announcement that it would donate 17.7 million doses of vaccines to the global fight against COVID-19 is to be applauded. But don’t clap too loud. We weren’t ever going to use them anyway. For all of its rhetoric on global vaccine equity, the Canadian government could be doing far more to help combat the pandemic.

Positive but insufficient steps

The millions of vaccines being made available by Canada are ...

McLeod Group blog by Lauchlan T. Munro, July 5, 2021

A decade ago, a few staff members at a famous human rights organization approached the organization where I worked, seeking advice on how to evaluate their work. They knew that they did meticulous and well-regarded research, that they got good media coverage and that their donors liked what they were producing. But were they actually making a difference in terms of people’s enjoyment of their human rights? They did not know.

In the ...

McLeod Group blog by Lauchlan T. Munro, June 8, 2021

When Mark Carney appeared at the recent Liberal Party convention and promised “to do whatever I can” to support that party, eyebrows were raised. After all, technocrats like Carney, former Governor of the Banks of both Canada and England, do not usually tread into partisan politics even after they retire from public service. But Carney has gone even further, advising UK Prime Minister ...

Blog by Stephen Brown, April 29, 2021

Canada talks an excellent game when it comes to foreign aid. Successive Canadian governments tout impressive-sounding new initiatives and brag about the country’s leadership on the world stage. Most recently, the Trudeau government has emphasized the importance of pandemic-related relief in low- and middle-income countries and Justin Trudeau himself has led the call for “equal global access to a COVID-19 vaccine.”

At first blush, the current government’s rhetoric on foreign aid seems to ...