Canada's Moving On Up In The International Community

Posted by Laura Steiner Sep 28, 2009

Last week was a landmark week for Canada in the international community. First at the United Nations, our delegation including Lawrence Cannon walked out on Iranian President Ahmadinejad as he began his speech. Second, came the announcement that Canada would host the G8, and G20 summits in Muskoka next June.

Taken as separate occurences, not a big deal. Canada walks out on a contrversial leader on one hand, and gets picked to host two summits so what? But let's look at what it means for the country when you put them together.

To this point, Canada has been considered a 'middle power' on the world stage, better known for its friends in Britain and the United States, than for being a power in its own right. In recent years the country has begun carving out its own niche. In Afghanistan, Canadian troops took on a major combat role, and in 2003 Prime Minister Jean Chretién broke with two traditional allies in the British and Americans by refusing to enter Iraq. Since Prime Minister Harper took powe in 2006, Canada has taken clear positions against Iran, and supporting Israel.

Walking out on Ahmadinejad is the strongest gesture you can make on an international stage such as the United Nations. That Canada led, instead of followed shows the country is taking a principled stand for human rights, and democracy. It also fits with the country's foreign policy on Iran, one the country has taken every chance to express. I'm proud of those actions taken by the foreign minister because it's so rare Canada ever leads anything.

Hosting the two summits is a big deal. The economic downturn has hit many of the world's richest economies hard. Canada is lucky; we've got a strong banking system that has weathered the recent problems well, and has the country in a stronger position than many others. The G8 will make its last hurrah in its current format under the summit co-chaired by Canada and South Korea.

Hot on its heels will be a G20 summit. At the recent summit in Pittsburgh, the G20 was designated as a premier economic forum. The first summit next June in Canada means the country's leaders will have the ability to craft the agenda. Potentially, the world's future economic policy could be determined largely by Canadian minds.

So put these two things together and you get a country that is taking a principled stand on foreign policy issues. And one that could eventually turn the country into something more than its current middle-power status.

For more information please see:

Canada's U.N. delegation Walks Out On Ahmadinejad

Canada To Host G8, G20 Summits in 2010