October 22, 2013
There has been a lot of noise about a new realism in Canadian foreign policy—principled, not going along just to get along—and it seems a great deal of rushing around the globe by the energetic Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird. But what do we have to show for all of this? There has been a flurry of comment in the last few weeks about Mr Harper not addressing the United Nations General Assembly fall session, unlike many ...
Continue Reading →August 27, 2012
“Uh oh, we goofed,” is an admission you are very unlikely to hear from the Harper government, especially when it comes to its behaviour internationally. Recent events in the Harper Government’s approach to Syria are no exception. The conclusion from the now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t support for Canadian Relief for Syria is that Foreign Minister John Baird, International Cooperation Minister Julian Fantino, and the Prime Minister himself, aren’t very interested in effective humanitarian aid, respect for international agreements and conventions, ...
Continue Reading →July 10, 2012
Not long after Stephen Harper snubbed the UN and instead went to New York to collect a “Statesman of the Year” award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation—handed over tellingly by Henry Kissinger—John Baird mounted the podium at the UN General Assembly. Finally getting a slot late in the queue amidst other second stringers like Oman, Djibouti, The Holy See and Palau, he told the nations of the world that in their collectivity, they are simply no good.
His ...
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