The Canadian International Council has done Canadians a great service by bringing together a varied group of individuals to formulate a way for our country to re-engage the world in a period of great change and transformation. Open Canada: A Global Positioning Strategy for a Networked Age is refreshing as it challenges the Canadian Government and individual citizens to do something that we have not done in quite some time: to think big when it comes to foreign policy.

The report describes in…

The Open Canada report states, "our water and energy will put us in the geopolitical crosshairs"; yet, there is astoundingly no mention of the St. Lawrence seaway and power project, and but one passing reference to the St. Lawrence River. Not only is this indicative of the traditional - and unfortunate - lack of importance ascribed to the St. Lawrence project, but it is even more glaring given the recognition in this report that water relations will be a pivotal aspect of Canada's international…

As members of the G20 industrial and emerging market countries meet in Toronto, Canada this month, debate is heating up on the next steps to reform the global economy. There is disagreement about when to reduce fiscal deficits, how to regulate the financial sector, and whether to introduce new financial or currency transactions taxes. Meantime, there is one measure that the G20 could move on swiftly to help the poorest in the aftermath of the crisis: transferring unused Special Drawing Rights…

The goal of Open Canada, the recent report by the Canadian International Council's Global Positioning Strategy Panel, was to start a countrywide debate over Canadian foreign policy. This is why Open Canada is chock full of ideas in the following areas: relations with the United States, Asia, and Mexico; Multilateralism; the Arctic; Trade and Investment; Security and Defence; Energy and the Environment; Development; Restructuring government departments; and even the role of the provinces in the…

Canadian foreign policy has been adrift for some time. The days of its golden age when Lester Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in ending the Suez conflict after Britain and France invaded Egypt in 1956 are long gone.

For at least the past 30 years and arguably longer, Canada has been seeking a position in the world that recognized our dependence on the United States while asserting our independence and attempting to create and use influence elsewhere in the world. That policy is…

The attention of many Canadians has been focused recently on responses to the current international economic downturn, even as our news headlines are captivated by vexing questions about the (mis) behaviour of elected representatives and relations between the government and Parliament. In Asia too, the international economy is the cause for much local uncertainty even as domestic politics are the source of a range of difficult challenges. China's recently concluded National People's Congress…

It reminds me of the lady from the New York boroughs who pleaded to Mayor Ed Koch. "Mayor, mayor! Make it like it was… Like it used to be."

"Lady," he said. "It was never as good as you think it was… But I'll try."

Canada's role and influence in the world was maybe not as important as we remember. But the community of rule-makers in the world was smaller, and it seemed as if we were among them.

Prime Ministers-Pearson, Trudeau, Mulroney, Chrétien-had important personal relationships on all…

Open Canada: A Global Positioning Strategy for a Networked Age is refreshing in its breadth, its scope, and in the quality of its recommendations.

From their emphasis on a whole of society approach to failing states, to their acknowledgement of the importance of Mexico to Canadian strategic interests, to their call to expand NORAD's responsibilities to deal with the Arctic, the report's authors exhibit a level of reason and thoughtfulness that makes this publication one that deserves to be read.

A…

Though the Open Canada report on Canada's place in the world is light on the rest of Latin America, its focus on strengthening relations with Mexico is most welcome. The high level of interest and positive commentary in the Canadian media on President Calderón's recent visit to Canada has provided a useful starting point for injecting new vigour into the relationship. As Open Canada correctly identifies, Mexico matters to Canada for a broad array of reasons involving trade, investment, culture…