TORONTO – In a speech to the National Forum today, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff released a major component of the next Liberal election platform: a plan to restore Canadian leadership in the world through a Global Networks Strategy.

“As Canada prepares to welcome the world at the G20, only the Liberal Party is presenting Canadians with a strategy to secure our economic prosperity and to make the world a safer place,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “Under Stephen Harper, we are missing an opportunity for global leadership.”

“Canada is networked with the world,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “Restoring Canadian global leadership requires a ‘whole of Canada’ approach that will harness our unique advantages as a country: our global diasporas, our linguistic and ethnic diversity, our geography, our resources, our technology.

“The Global Networks approach requires a new kind of federal leadership to set Canada’s overall priorities. Acting in partnership with business and government, colleges and universities, civil society organizations and private citizens – and especially our youth – we will leverage our relationships with the world.

“This is an ambitious, 21st century plan for Canada in the world – and we’re going to put our money where our mouth is to deliver on it,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “To fund a Global Networks Strategy, after the end of the combat mission in Afghanistan, a Liberal government will reallocate the $1.7 billion annual cost of the Afghanistan mission to deliver the right balance between defense, development and diplomacy.”

Mr. Ignatieff announced that under a Global Networks Strategy, a future Liberal government will:

• Seek Global Network Agreements – a next-generation agreement that goes beyond trade and investment – with China and India to collaborate in research and education, energy and sustainability, transportation, food security, health, immigration, culture and tourism;

• Proactively engage the United States in on our shared multilateral goals such as nuclear disarmament and building a clean energy future;

• Help to secure the peace in Afghanistan post-2011 by working to build solid institutions;

• Return to a leadership role in United Nations peace operations and work to prevent conflict and mass-scale human rights abuses before they start by advancing the U.N. adopted doctrine of ‘Responsibility to Protect’;

• Empower women in the developing world with a focus on health, education and economic development;

• Put Africa back at the top of Canada’s international aid priorities by investing in governance and private sector growth; and

• Build multilateral institutions involving all Arctic nations and northern Aboriginal peoples focussed on social, economic, environmental and security issues.

Restoring Canadian global leadership is one of three Liberal priorities – along with learning and care – that were announced at the Canada at 150: Rising to the Challenge conference.

“A Liberal government will restore the pride Canadians once felt about our place in the world,” Mr. Ignatieff concluded. “With new vision and renewed ambition, we can change our world for the better.”

“Canada in the World: A Global Networks Strategy” can be downloaded at http://lpc.ca/canworld.

BACKGROUND
Summary of Commitments

Global Network Agreements

• Immediately enter into negotiations with China and India to sign Global Network Agreements that will deepen our economic, knowledge and cultural ties, and build relationships at all levels;

• Modernize and renew Team Canada missions with more focused programs, more sustained interactions and reciprocal visits than the previous, successful model;

Renewing Partnerships in North America

• Build additional capacity in the federal government to raise the profile of the Canada-U.S. relationship within America;

• Work with the United States to explore improved administrative arrangements for the management of our shared border;

• Engage the White House and Congress proactively on carbon pricing, clean energy, research and development, electricity transmission grid development and standards, and regulation for new clean technologies in the North American market;

• Work with Mexico towards the objective of phasing out the visa requirement for Mexican citizens visiting Canada, while addressing Canada’s concerns on refugee claims;

Canada’s North and the International Arctic Region

• Pursue a new, multilateral agreement on the Arctic to advance cooperation on social, economic, environmental and security issues;

• Establish a permanent secretariat for the Arctic Council, and appoint a new Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs;
Building a New Partnership with Africa

• Re-engage with Africa, by restoring it to the top of our international aid priorities, invest in governance capacity and private sector growth;
Marshalling Canada’s Strengths in Human Development

• Make Canadian support for Peace Order and Good Government abroad a central priority by creating a capacity to broker, coordinate and fund deployments of Canadian governance support and expertise, from both within federal agencies, and beyond – including other governments, retired professionals, the private sector and NGOs;

• Advance international efforts to operationalize the doctrine of ‘Responsibility to Protect’, a rigorous framework for preventing conflict and mass-scale abuse of human rights;

• Establish an academic centre of excellence in conflict prevention and resolution that brings together experts on ethnic and other conflicts;

• Undertake a new leadership role for Canada in United Nations peace operations. Renewing our commitment to multilateral training, commanding and other military missions that are consistent with Canadian interests, values and capabilities;

• Pursue a post-combat role in Afghanistan that is focused on the training of police and military personnel in a staff college setting in Kabul, and civilian governance capacity-building;

• Appoint a special envoy to represent Canada in diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the surrounding region;

• Renew partnerships with the many Canadian civil society organizations working to improve the lives of those most in need;

• Adopt an overarching emphasis on empowering women in the developing world as a principal focus of Canadian development, including in health, education and economic development;

• Include food security, disaster relief and reconstruction, climate change adaptation and water management as additional priorities;

• Implement a Canada Youth Service program that financially supports youth volunteerism, including international volunteer experience;

Renewing Canadian Multilateralism

• Strengthen Canada’s participation in multilateral organizations;

• Pursue reforms at the United Nations that create firmer membership obligations, modernize key bodies, bring greater accountability for results, and enhance transparency;

• Support the creation of a permanent G-20 secretariat in Canada, to conduct policy research, engage civil society and the private sector, facilitate transition from the G-8, and support G-20 members in sharing of best practices for the affordable organization of summit meetings;

• Work with provincial governments in the preparation for relevant multilateral meetings, and implementation of agreements;

Branding Canada for Success in a Networked World

• Launch an aggressive Branding Canada initiative to boost trade and investment, leveraging the use of our embassies and consulates abroad;

• Create Canada Global Scholarships to provide full scholarships for outstanding students from lower and middle income countries to study at Canadian universities;

• Restore and expand funding for international cultural promotion programming; and

Renewing Federal Government Capacity

• Reallocate incremental spending after the end of the combat mission in Afghanistan, toward a more balanced investment across the range of defence, development, diplomatic functions and overseas posts, including renewal of Canada’s foreign service.