I'd largely agree that it is much more important for us to be on the ground making a difference than relying on rhetoric and being concerned about our place in the world. Sometimes I like to say that we've made it too much about us: Are we part of this club? Are we being neglected? Are we getting credit? This is not the behaviour of a grown-up power. I think we need to be much more focused on the results and the pursuit of our interests and values. That's also a matter of having a certain amount of consistency, as Professor Kersten talked about.
I'll say one thing in closing. I find it curious that we continue to talk about the rules-based order and preserving it. That particular rhetoric risks putting Canada on the side of the status quo. There are many countries around the world that feel the rules-based order has, at times, served up injustice, inequity and hierarchy. I think it's much more important to talk about a rules-based order, one that involves some of our current rules and also reforms.
If we spoke more in that open-ended way, inviting discussion about how the system can be improved, I think it would get us much further.