Evidence of meeting #95 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was global.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Thank you.
There are different types of diplomacy. The Minister of Foreign Affairs talked about “pragmatic diplomacy”. There's also another type, called “dollar diplomacy”.
What are we doing? Are we really doing enough with pragmatic diplomacy that we can reserve our space or spot in the world among our allies and among the international community? Are we doing enough dollar diplomacy, yes or no?
That's for Dr. Juneau and then Dr. Carvin.
Associate Professor, Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa, As an Individual
Just to be clear, what do you mean, exactly, by “dollar diplomacy”?
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
Dollar diplomacy is one way that countries use to get some influence on the international stage. If we are falling behind and we don't put forward enough resources, that could be one reason why we are not doing so well.
Associate Professor, Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa, As an Individual
Very briefly, whatever reforms we implement on machinery issues and whatever we do in terms of what Professor Carvin was mentioning in terms of better defining our foreign policy interests, objectives and so on, without money and resources for diplomacy, defence and, I would add, foreign intelligence and national security, we are only going to be able to partially defend our interests. There is very simply a need to invest more.
Conservative
Associate Professor, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, As an Individual
I would agree with that. I would refer to the comments and discussion I had with Ms. McPherson; development matters in these conversations, particularly with our non-western allies. We don't seem to pay attention to that.
I don't know if I like calling it “dollar diplomacy”. Definitely we refer to that in.... Some people talk about the debt trap in Africa, with regard to China and how they are providing money that will never be repaid, but there are definitely steps there that we could be taking, especially with our allies, in terms of outreach to those countries.
Conservative
Ziad Aboultaif Conservative Edmonton Manning, AB
If I ask you as academics to explain or to define pragmatic diplomacy in short words, would you be able to do so?
Associate Professor, Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa, As an Individual
First of all, pragmatic diplomacy can mean whatever you want it to mean. I think that's the key point. When a politician defines something like that, to me it means that we will dismiss principles, objectives and strategies and play it as it goes. In theory, pragmatic diplomacy would mean that ideology and values take the back seat.
Associate Professor, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, As an Individual
Thomas is the expert, as you know. I would leave it to him.
I agree. The only thing I would caution is that when we say “pragmatic”, it could be anything. It's a shape-shifting form.
There is a role for values and human rights in our foreign policy. It has to be there, otherwise I think we're.... We have talked about being hypocritical; we also don't want to be seen as being cynical.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I don't know if you still want to split your time, because we need to leave half an hour for committee business as well.
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
On a point of order, I want to check on our process, because it's six o'clock. I thought we had half an hour of committee business—
Liberal
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
I'm asking when we will begin committee business time, because I thought we could end this part of the meeting early. We haven't had a discussion about that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
I said it. We have another 20 minutes left for this. That means we will start the committee business in approximately 20 minutes.
Liberal
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
Could you canvass the committee as to whether or not that is the will of the committee? I'm just wondering whether we want another two rounds.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
No, we're not. We were just going to do two hours, but we started at ten minutes to five.
