Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank the witnesses for joining us and informing our thinking on the future of Canadian diplomacy.
There's no question that Canada has lost a lot of influence over the last few decades. We saw that with its two unsuccessful attempts to get elected to the UN Security Council, first under Stephen Harper's government and then under the current Prime Minister.
I hear Professor Welsh's recommendation to refocus our efforts on certain parts of the world. I also hear the message that we need to build on our strengths. Canada isn't a great military power—far from it—and it's no longer a power of great political influence. It's also not an economic powerhouse. However, it manages to distinguish itself in certain areas.
In 2022, Daniel Livermore, who spent three decades as a public servant in international relations, was concerned that Global Affairs Canada appeared to be ignoring international cultural affairs. In fact, in the minister's plan for the future of diplomacy, the cultural aspect is mentioned only once in 40 pages. Let me just quote that one time: The department should continue to maximize the use of “soft power” and public diplomacy abroad, including through support for science diplomacy, sport diplomacy, academic diplomacy, and cultural diplomacy.
At one time, Canada invested a lot of money in cultural diplomacy. That's no longer the case. And yet, culturally speaking, Canada and Quebec probably shine far beyond their demographic and economic weight, among other things, internationally.
Dr. Welsh and Mr. Chapnick, why do you think Canada has moved away from cultural diplomacy a little bit in recent years, and what importance should Canada place on that to regain some international influence?