iPolitics
No sign of grand strategy in the government’s uninspired global blueprint.
Day: November 23, 2012
Coming up short: No sign of a grand strategy in Canada’s “secret” foreign policy plan
The leak of a draft Canadian foreign policy plan, first reported nationally on 19 November, was treated breathlessly by the media and hyped as a major story.
By way of contrast, the event has generated something of a yawn from members of the commentariat.
Insofar as that lacklustre response reflects what we know of the apparently insipid content of the paper, it is unsurprising. The need to embrace trade and economic opportunities in emerging markets, while continuing with efforts to advance Canadian interests in the USA, is hardly the stuff of revelation.
So, too with the requirement to manage carefully the pursuit of Canadian objectives in countries where fundamental values may not align.
Still, the appearance of this document, the status of which remains uncertain, is not completely without significance. The absence of consultations during its preparation suggests serious problems of governance, not least an over-reliance on secrecy and control. Moreover, the issues that are not covered in the plan may be more significant than those that are.