OUR PRIORITIES

Making a Difference: the New Diplomacy

Canada is well regarded internationally for its strong diplomatic vocation and active participation in today’s international forums. From External Affairs Minister Lester B. Pearson’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning role in the creation of peacekeeping, to the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines, to our central role in establishing the International Criminal Court, Canada has helped show leadership on major global issues.

Today, with so many new actors on the international stage, and facing new global challenges, from state failure to environmental sustainability or energy security, effective diplomacy is more important than ever. To be successful, our foreign policy requires more than good intentions, creative ideas or reliance on a solid reputation. It needs focus and resources. Unfortunately, while we have had a record of success, there has been an erosion in our foreign policy assets within the broader context of restoring financial health to the Government as a whole.

Our strategy is to develop a diplomacy that is adapted to a globalized world. This “new diplomacy” will reflect the fact that our domestic and international priorities are increasingly interconnected and that success demands building wide and flexible networks at home and abroad to foster innovative partnerships. The Government has already, in Budget 2005, taken important steps to reinvest in Canada’s diplomatic role internationally.

Within the context of the new diplomacy, Foreign Affairs will focus on four policy priorities:

fostering the North American Partnership, by supporting the revitalization of our partnership with the United States and expanding cooperation with Mexico, exploring trilateral initiatives, and devoting renewed attention to the Arctic;
making a distinctive contribution to Canada’s efforts to help build a more secure world, in particular with regard to failed and fragile states, counterterrorism and organized crime, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and human security;
promoting a new multilateralism that emphasizes global responsibilities, and a reformed multilateral system that tackles major global issues, including the environment and health, by putting results ahead of process;
realigning bilateral relationships and building new networks (beyond North America) key to both our interests and values, taking into account the rise of major new players.

New Capacities

In order to deliver on these policy priorities, Foreign Affairs will renew its capacity through re-allocation of existing resources and through the development of new strategies and instruments. The Department will:

provide improved consular, passport and other services to Canadians, and improved security of identification documents, reflecting the greater need to help ensure the security and safety of Canadians as they play a more active international role;
increase policy capacity, to better anticipate emerging issues and provide leadership in forging a government-wide response;
complete an internal restructuring and consolidation of Foreign Affairs, including a more focused North America branch, a global issues branch concentrating on multilateral reform, a more strategic management of bilateral relations and international security, and a stronger emphasis on strategic foreign policy development and public diplomacy;
establish a Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force (START) to ensure that there is longer-term planning for early responses to international crises and that the required government skills and expertise are at the ready;
develop new program capacity, including a $100-million Global Peace and Security Fund, to provide security assistance to failed and fragile states, as well as resources for post-conflict stabilization and recovery;
strengthen its field presence, particularly in regions of growing interest to Canada (such as Asia), and improve capacity in key third languages such as Mandarin and Arabic; and
pursue a more robust and aggressive public diplomacy strategy, to ensure that Canada’s voice and ideas are clearly heard and understood, enabling us to build the coalitions we need to achieve our goals.
pursue a more robust and aggressive public diplomacy strategy, to ensure that Canada’s voice and ideas are clearly heard and understood, enabling us to build the coalitions we need to achieve our goals.

Foreign Affairs will also cooperate more closely with other key partners, including federal departments with international interests, Parliament, the provinces and territories, as well as Canadian citizens. Our objective will be to renew Foreign Affairs’ role as the interpreter, integrator and chief advocate of Canada’s overall international effort, helping to ensure a single, coherent Canadian approach to world affairs.

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