Canada, Ably Led
Prime Minister Stephen Harper had an agenda with respect to Canada's place in the international community, that he planned "to bring Canada back as a credible player on the world stage. Canadians have always wanted a government that plays a role in the world. I intend to make this a country that leads." He has, in fact, in the four years of his resilient minority government, taken strong steps to lead Canada away from previous governments' fence-sitting attitudes.
And for his troubles, the Liberals and the NDP loudly lament that Canada has lost its moral compass on the world stage, positioning itself as a staunch friend and ally of countries it deems reflects Canada's values, not the least of which are the values represented by democratic liberalism. Canada has become a stalwart in a dwindling international-community-support position vis-a-vis Israel, under this Conservative-led government.
No longer sitting on the sidelines in the United Nations when Israel is singularly isolated and denounced in terms well suited to describe her Middle East neighbours, who have excelled in turning reality into fantasy and delusion into reality.
In point of fact, Canada's international reputation has bloomed under the leadership of this prime minister. Whose own personal rectitude and views leadership abilities, and values of just and fair determinations based on reality have brought him respect on the international scene and at least as much at home.
No longer does Canada equivocate, trying to see which way the wind is blowing, to best benefit its reputation among countries whose practises it should be condemning, not agreeing with.
Sitting at the G8 table, Canada is distinguishing itself, as a leader in financial management, earning the curiosity and respect of its global partners. Canada has much to say in matters as diverse as energy supply, climate change and world trade. The sacrifices of the country's military personnel charged with containing and pacifying a terrorist insurgency in Afghanistan as part of its NATO alliance obligations has earned the country further respect.
Yet old war horses like Paul Heinbecker, former ambassadorial-level functionary with Foreign Affairs, claims from his Liberal perspective that "Our reputation internationally is beginning to suffer". Not likely. This country has a prime minister in Mr. Harper whose grasp of international issues and their complexities comes second to none. Speaking with authority and clarity as he does, well-briefed and prepared to act.
Another former deputy foreign minister who served under both Paul Martin and Stephen Harper characterizes Mr. Harper as taking pains to ensure he knows the important details before committing himself, and stating his opinions and his understanding of situations in an articulate and reliable manner. Basically, the complaints rest with Stephen Harper's ideological bias, colouring his perceptions of the issues at hand.
Strange, that. Don't all prime ministers, representing their various political parties, own to an ideological bias? Is that ideology - the slant, the perspective and views they take when regarding issues, reflecting the values they subscribe to, as part of their political ideology or political position - not what drives individuals who aspire to the highest political office?
An obscure political science professor from the University of Prince Edward Island is cited as insightful in claiming that Prime Minister Harper's pro-Israel position will create difficulties in Canada's attempt to win a seat on the UN Security Council this year. Is the solution to sacrifice principles to obtain that seat? Is that not specifically what too many UN member-countries descend to, to obtain acceptance by abandoning moral principles?
The claim has also been put forward that Mr. Harper plays to domestic votes in structuring his foreign policies, with the emphasis on obtaining the Jewish vote. How does that make sense, when Jews make up a relatively small proportion of the population, and by contrast the Arab/Muslim vote is multiple-times greater? Claiming this to be foreign policy driven by public opinion polls is hardly credible.
"Harper has really politicized our foreign policy", claims Peter McKenna, foreign policy specialist at U. of PEI. Oh. Dear. Aren't all policies driven by politics? How very Canadian that all these self-proclaimed experts on Canada and Canadian politics and the merits and verities of Canadian prime ministerial material and ideologies are all rushing in to make their views known, when Canada is on the cusp of hosting the G8 and G20 meetings.
Prime Minister Harper is busy administering the internal affairs of Canada, and doing so ably. The country is much the better for it in every conceivable way. And, as it happens, he is also doing precisely what he promised before he took temporary ownership of the prime minister's office in the House of Commons: he is making friends and influencing other governments and parliamentarians, and he is putting Canada back on the world stage. Proudly.
Canada, ably led.
And for his troubles, the Liberals and the NDP loudly lament that Canada has lost its moral compass on the world stage, positioning itself as a staunch friend and ally of countries it deems reflects Canada's values, not the least of which are the values represented by democratic liberalism. Canada has become a stalwart in a dwindling international-community-support position vis-a-vis Israel, under this Conservative-led government.
No longer sitting on the sidelines in the United Nations when Israel is singularly isolated and denounced in terms well suited to describe her Middle East neighbours, who have excelled in turning reality into fantasy and delusion into reality.
In point of fact, Canada's international reputation has bloomed under the leadership of this prime minister. Whose own personal rectitude and views leadership abilities, and values of just and fair determinations based on reality have brought him respect on the international scene and at least as much at home.
No longer does Canada equivocate, trying to see which way the wind is blowing, to best benefit its reputation among countries whose practises it should be condemning, not agreeing with.
Sitting at the G8 table, Canada is distinguishing itself, as a leader in financial management, earning the curiosity and respect of its global partners. Canada has much to say in matters as diverse as energy supply, climate change and world trade. The sacrifices of the country's military personnel charged with containing and pacifying a terrorist insurgency in Afghanistan as part of its NATO alliance obligations has earned the country further respect.
Yet old war horses like Paul Heinbecker, former ambassadorial-level functionary with Foreign Affairs, claims from his Liberal perspective that "Our reputation internationally is beginning to suffer". Not likely. This country has a prime minister in Mr. Harper whose grasp of international issues and their complexities comes second to none. Speaking with authority and clarity as he does, well-briefed and prepared to act.
Another former deputy foreign minister who served under both Paul Martin and Stephen Harper characterizes Mr. Harper as taking pains to ensure he knows the important details before committing himself, and stating his opinions and his understanding of situations in an articulate and reliable manner. Basically, the complaints rest with Stephen Harper's ideological bias, colouring his perceptions of the issues at hand.
Strange, that. Don't all prime ministers, representing their various political parties, own to an ideological bias? Is that ideology - the slant, the perspective and views they take when regarding issues, reflecting the values they subscribe to, as part of their political ideology or political position - not what drives individuals who aspire to the highest political office?
An obscure political science professor from the University of Prince Edward Island is cited as insightful in claiming that Prime Minister Harper's pro-Israel position will create difficulties in Canada's attempt to win a seat on the UN Security Council this year. Is the solution to sacrifice principles to obtain that seat? Is that not specifically what too many UN member-countries descend to, to obtain acceptance by abandoning moral principles?
The claim has also been put forward that Mr. Harper plays to domestic votes in structuring his foreign policies, with the emphasis on obtaining the Jewish vote. How does that make sense, when Jews make up a relatively small proportion of the population, and by contrast the Arab/Muslim vote is multiple-times greater? Claiming this to be foreign policy driven by public opinion polls is hardly credible.
"Harper has really politicized our foreign policy", claims Peter McKenna, foreign policy specialist at U. of PEI. Oh. Dear. Aren't all policies driven by politics? How very Canadian that all these self-proclaimed experts on Canada and Canadian politics and the merits and verities of Canadian prime ministerial material and ideologies are all rushing in to make their views known, when Canada is on the cusp of hosting the G8 and G20 meetings.
Prime Minister Harper is busy administering the internal affairs of Canada, and doing so ably. The country is much the better for it in every conceivable way. And, as it happens, he is also doing precisely what he promised before he took temporary ownership of the prime minister's office in the House of Commons: he is making friends and influencing other governments and parliamentarians, and he is putting Canada back on the world stage. Proudly.
Canada, ably led.
Labels: Canada, G8, Government of Canada, Realities
posted by Pieface | 7:03 PM
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