Canadian Foreign Policy and Foreign Economic Relations March

Canadian Foreign Policy and Foreign Economic Relations March 18

“the world needs more Canada. ” – Bono, Liberal Party Convention 2003

n Could Bono possibly be wrong? n What is Canada’s role in the world? n By 2005, Bono was ‘crushed’ that Paul Martin was not fulfilling his promises on increased foreign aid.

Middle power? n n As the US emerged as one of two global superpowers, Canada developed the self-image of itself as a ‘middle power. ’ Obviously not a superpower, Canada thought of itself an influential international player particularly within multilateral institutions, like the UN.

An independent foreign policy? n n Canada has struggled to develop and maintain a degree of independence (first of Britain and then of the US) in its foreign policy. Since the 1940 s, Canada has generally followed the American lead, but there have been a few notable exceptions.

‘a satellite of the US’ or a ‘principal power’ n n The dependency school within Canadian political economy suggests Canada is ‘a satellite of the US. ’ The notion of Canada as a ‘principal power’ suggests that Canada acts in its own interests in shaping its foreign policy.

Canada: ‘an imperialist power’ n n In one interpretation of Canada as a ‘principal power, ’ Canada is considered an imperialist power that acts in a negative and exploitive relationship with the developing world. Klassen: “gives qualified support to theory of Canadian imperialism. ” “Canada is a secondary power among the top tier of states. ” Canada participates in the process of “collective imperialism. ”

Canadian Direct Foreign Investment Abroad n n n Klassen: in 2006, Canada was the 9 th largest source of FDI flows and the 7 th largest source of FDI stocks. In 2004 -05, Canada was home to 1, 439 multinational corporations. Klassen: “Canadian corporations have a worldwide base of accumulation from which to generate surplus value and thus have an independent interest in the new imperialism. ”

Canadian Mining Corporations n n n Percentage of world's mining companies registered in Canada: 60% Percentage of total world mining exploration attributed to Canadian mining companies: 43% Number of countries where Canadian mining companies have allegedly violated human rights: 30

Canadian Mining Corporations n “Trouble at Canadian mining sites around the world” http: //media. thestar. topscms. com/acrobat/97/3 a/580 b 1 f 54442183 cc 321 fbcab 8 ea 7. pdf n “A Canadian mine - leads to conflict” Video at: http: //www. thestar. com/videozone/728667 n “Canadian mining firms face abuse allegations, ” Toronto Star. Nov, 22, 2009. http: //www. thestar. com/news/canada/article/729147 n “Copper Mesa sued for alleged assault, ” Toronto Star. Nov, 22, 2009. http: //www. thestar. com/news/canada/article/729148 n “Bullets fly over Canadian-owned mine, ” Toronto Star. Nov. 23, 2009. http: //www. thestar. com/news/world/article/729363 n “MPs told of gang rapes at mine, ” Toronto Star. Nov 24, 2009. http: //www. thestar. com/news/investigations/article/729805

Headlines from Mining Watch Canada n n “Groups File Documentation with RCMP on Canadian Mining Company’s Involvement in Mexican Corruption Case” “Another Protester Against Pacific Rim Mining Corporation's El Dorado Project Assassinated in El Salvador - Second Community Activist Killed in Less Than a Week” “Guatemalan Community Leaders ask Canadian Government to Investigate Human Rights Violations Allegedly Committed by Goldcorp Inc. at Marlin Mine” “Kidnapping of Opponent of Canadian Mines in Chicomuselo, Chiapas, Mexico”

Headlines from Mining Watch Canada n n n “Dangerous Levels of Arsenic Found Near Tanzania Mine” “Indigenous Leaders from Papua New Guinea, Chile Raise Serious Human Rights and Environmental Concerns Around Barrick Gold Operations” “Norwegian Pension Fund Excludes Barrick Gold on Ethical Grounds”

Official Development Assistance n n Canada’s ODA as a percentage of GDP: 0. 33% (well short of the UN ‘target’ of 0. 7%). Recently, “Finance Department officials indicated Official Development Assistance levels as a percentage of GDP will drop from 0. 32 to 0. 26 over the next few years. That would put Canada behind almost every other OECD country in terms of percentage of GDP spent on aid, with the exception of the US, Japan, Italy and Greece. ” http: //www. embassymag. ca/mobile/story/thronespeech-03 -10 -2010 n Approximately 40% of Canadian aid is ‘tied’ aid, meaning that it must be used to purchase goods and services from Canada.

n "All That Glitters Isn't Gold" is an hour-long documentary that tells the stories of community members residing near [Canadian mining company] Goldcorp's San Martin open-pit gold mine in Honduras' Siria Valley. http: //www. rightsaction. org/video/gold/