February 7, 2010

Summary: The Canadian government announced Friday that Canadian companies will be excluded from the protectionist measures within the United States’ 2009 economic stimulus plan. The ‘Buy American’ article of the U.S. stimulus package sparked immediate tensions in Canada, from those who believe economic recovery should be a coordinated effort between Canada and the United States. Though this development is undoubtedly an improvement in the bill, some argue that this measure has come to late, given the amount of American stimulus money that has already been spent.

Excerpt: ‘Canadian companies will be exempt from a protectionist “Buy American” clause in the U.S. government’s $787-billion US economic stimulus package, the federal government announced Friday.’

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February 7 2010

Summary: At the conclusion of this week’s meeting of global finance leaders, it seems clear that the Iqaluit conference has produced more questions than answers. In his closing statements today, Canadian Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty offered general goals on behalf of G7 countries to ensure that economic recovery is not only achieved, but also maintained long-term. Though Flaherty did not offer country-specific details, G7 leaders agreed to continue implementing economic stimulus funds until recovery is deep-rooted.

Excerpt: ‘While there was no shortage of photo opportunities for finance ministers and their central bankers — dogsledding in heavy parkas, or casually clad at a fireside chat — the two-day Group of Seven meeting ended with few words.’

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Wednesday January 27th, 2010

Summary : In the World Economic Forum taking place over two days starting on Wednesday, Prime Mnister Stephen Harper is intent on putting forth the urgency of the global health care action. On Thursday, Harper will be giving a speech sketching out the key objective of the G8 this year : maternal and child health care in developing nations. Due to Canada’s presidency in the G8 and co-presidency in the G20, Harper has a unique opportunity to influence the global agenda this year.

Excerpt : [...] Dimitri Soudas, the prime minister’s press secretary, said Mr. Harper intends to allow the G8 to focus on broad social and development goals and do it while stressing accountability and effectiveness.

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16th January, 2010

Summary: The Canadian government has remained firm in its decision to pull the bulk of Canadian forces out of Afghanistan by 2011. Conrad Black sees this as a mistake. He believes that it would not be prudent to pull out at a time when the United States is finally deploying the forces necessary to win the conflict. Canada should remain past 2011 in support of this new American surge.

Excerpt: “Canada should remain at present strength in Afghanistan until President Obama’s proposed initiation of de-escalation in 18 months. Following that period, we would then determine our future policy, independently of the United States, but simultaneously.”

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Thursday January 14, 2010

Summary: In the wake of this week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Canadian federal government has announced it is close to implementing a new humanitarian effort which would make possible the immigration of thousands of Haitians to Canada. As the first 100 Canadian citizens who were in Haiti at the time of the quake arrive at Pierre Trudeau International Airport Thursday evening, attention now turns to Minister of Immigration Jason Kenney. Prime Minister Stephen Harper indicated Thursday that although Canada’s search and rescue effort in Haiti will remain the government’s top priority, the issue of immigration will be announced and addressed in the next two days.

Excerpt: “The evacuation was announced at a news conference, along with the government’s program to match individual Canadian donations to registered charities providing relief to earthquake victims in Haiti.”

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Wednesday January 13, 2010

Summary: Canada’s Disaster Assistance Relief Team has been deployed to Haiti in a humanitarian effort the Canadian military has named Operation Hamlet. In a news conference with Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, and Defense Minister Peter MacKay, both acknowledged that although communications remain difficult, none of the 6000 Canadians in Haiti at the time of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake have been reported dead. As part of the military effort, the Canadian Force’s largest plane, a C-17, will be deployed to bring both supplies and evacuate personnel if necessary. Though supportive of the Canadian government’s immediate five million dollar pledge to the island nation, Michael Ignatieff encourages further generosity towards Canada’s “second most important investment overseas”.

Excerpt: “Defence Minister MacKay said more about the situation will be known this afternoon when the Hercules arrives in the disaster zone.”

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January 12th, 2010

Summary: The Montreal Gazette criticizes the federal government’s lack of new funding for scientific research, particularly that on climate change. It claims that the result has been an exodus of researchers to other countries where funding is available. The paper fears that this will seriously damage Canada’s presence in the scientific community.

Excerpt: “This time last year, Canadian scientists warned that federal government funding cuts to research grants would trigger a brain drain to the United States.Today, the brain drain is well underway, particularly in the field of climate-change research, according to scientists interviewed in La Presse this week.”

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Monday Jan 11, 2010

Summary : Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon renewed Canada’s 6 year old demand for repatriation of photojournalist Zahra Kazemi’s body. Kazemi who was a Canadian citizen born in Iran, was imprisoned and killed for taking photographs of a demonstration in 2003. Cannon accused former Tehran prosecutor Mortazavi of his disregard for human rights including in the case of Kazemi’s murder.

Excerpt : ”Canada has consistently called upon Iran to respect all of its human rights obligations,” Cannon added. “We have clearly noted our concerns regarding the heavy-handed crackdown by Iranian security forces on legitimate protesters and called for a free and transparent investigation into allegations of abuse following unrest.”

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Friday December 25, 2009

Summary : World Leaders at the Pittsburg Summit on Friday announced that the G20 will supplant the G8 for governing economic issues.  Responsibilities of economic coordination and major global economic decisions, which has been served by the Group of Eight during the last three decades, are now being transferred to the G20. This decision reflects previous concerns about the G8 not representing many of the major emerging economies including China, India, and Brazil. ”[The G20] will be better able to tackle issues of global gridlock because all the protagonists are at the table”, Harper said. That same day, South Korean President Myung-bak Lee and Harper announced that the two countries will be co-hosting and co-chairing the next G20 summit in June 2010.

Excerpt : [...] the G8 has historically been the dominant body for discussions on peace and security issues, as well as international development. “We we believe those discussions should continue,” Harper said, “but the G20 will now take the lead on economic matters.”

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Wednesday January 6th, 2010

Summary: For a long time the federal government has funded NGOs as one way of executing its foreign development goals. Margret Wente argues, however, that the heavy politicization of many of these NGOs makes funding them inappropriate and sees nothing wrong with the government halting funds to particular groups.

Excerpt: “I’m certainly not opposed to the existence of groups that denounce the neo-liberal agenda, run radical boot camps, declare carbon holidays in the name of God or think Israel is the worst country on Earth. I just don’t think they should do it with our money. If they’ve got causes they believe in, good for them. Just let them pay for it themselves, like the rest of us.”

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