Section: Canadian International Council (Canada)
The refugee crisis: Canada’s role
They are desperate people taking desperate measures as they flee war, persecution and poverty. They endure abuse, starvation and, for the unlucky, death in their search for asylum. The numbers are numbing. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 60 million displaced persons are on the move. Each day an additional...
Election 2015: Where is the debate on defence and security?
It would be a great leap forward if, in the coming federal election, there was a separate debate on national defence and security. The denizens of debate negotiation and management at the networks and political parties may not have the freedom or courage to make it so but it would be of immense value nonetheless. While there is usually a passing...
Ukraine’s Chechen fighters
The post Ukraine’s Chechen fighters appeared first on Canadian International Council – Canada’s hub for international affairs. …read more Source: Canadian International...
‘Outdated’ Iran policy makes Canada a global outlier
As the world reached a historic nuclear accord with Iran last week, Ottawa’s reaction was predictably subdued in keeping with its tough stance against Tehran. By stating Canada’s appreciation for the agreement, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rob Nicholson calculatedly refrained from either endorsing or criticizing it, and articulated...
Diaspora Politics: When domestic votes trump foreign policy
Throughout the Harper government’s nine-year grip on power, diaspora politics has become more prominent with time. We have seen Conservative politicians and Members of Cabinet show favouritism towards some groups at the expense of others, develop special diaspora initiatives with sizeable budgets, and compromise Canada’s international...
Russia, corruption and the dark side of the Beautiful Game
Watching the talented, spirited athletes at the FIFA Woman’s World Cup is balm for one’s spirit in a troubled time. They are true exemplars of The Beautiful Game. But off the field, behind the glamour and FIFA’s front-office bravado, there is the stench of corruption. Corruption is the way of so much of the world. Grease a palm,...
Europe and Russia: A tale of two pipelines
The European Union recently renewed its economic sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, but Russia remains a big energy source, albeit with one big “if” — if Russia can get its energy to market. And that becomes a question of pipeline geopolitics. For Europe and Russia, this means the question of the “Turkish Stream” pipeline project...
End of a NATO era?
The Ukrainian crisis has been keeping the Harper government busy. Ottawa has unequivocally condemned Moscow’s actions; at the G20 summit last November, Stephen Harper reportedly told Russian President Vladimir Putin to “get out of Ukraine.” Deeds followed words: six CF-18 fighter jets have been sent to join the NATO mission policing the...
Merkel on G7: ‘Summit is more than crisis diplomacy’
The heads of state and government of the seven leading industrial countries will gather in Germany on June 7 and June 8 to discuss the most pressing global challenges. The Group of Seven countries are linked not only by prosperity and economic strength, but also by their shared values: freedom, democracy and human rights. Anyone doubting that...
Alberta and the world of oil
Albertans went to the polls on May 5 and elected an NDP government – after 43 years of Progressive Conservative rule. The shock waves reverberate. At the same time, Alberta is experiencing drastically reduced revenue from oil and gas. Under the Progressives Conservatives, a cosy relationship existed between oil companies and provincial...
