Thank you for the question.
I believe there is a lot we can do--a lot we can do with the existing resources we have and a lot we can do with targeted resources added to our repertoire. This needs both ministerial blessing and engagement, but a lot can be done by diplomats as well.
I do some work in South America. In the countries where I work, at the highest levels--presidents and ministers--they talk about the Canadian approach to investment. They mean transparency, rule of law, and predictability. We, in turn, ask of the local government that they respond in a fashion whereby Canadian investment meets the criteria of transparency, rule of law--often environmental issues and labour issues are involved if you're dealing with the mining sector--and in South America, aboriginal issues. In one case, there is active engagement of the aboriginal leadership in Canada with the aboriginal leadership in the countries I'm referring to. They are talking about Canadian aboriginals being part of the extraction industry in Canada as a model for the country.
I mention this because it's not just officials; civil society and other players can add to the repertoire we can bring to a particular country's needs. But I do think you have to have the enhanced capacity to do some of this stuff. It is very difficult to pursue this if you don't have a significant presence and the capacity and understanding.
I am an optimist. I believe that Canada can have influence globally, but we also must be realistic in acknowledging that while we are a G8 country and a serious economic player, we are not as unique as we were 20 years ago or 30 years ago in the sense of where global power is. To that extent, we have to focus. We have to have niches, and we have to have the ideas that bring relevance to the engagement. When that has worked well, it has made a significant difference, and there are examples you could cite.