Policy is not anti-American

STEPHEN OWEN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

At this challenging time of terrorism and war, Canadians are examining our principles and our relationship to the United States and the world. It is important that we avoid simplistic notions of for or against, all right and all wrong, once and for all. The issues are complex, the context shifts and global relationships are increasingly interdependent. Absolute positions can bring short-term confidence and allies, but they are brittle and confine us over time.

Canadians and Americans relate closely to each other on multiple levels – family, community, culture, economy, environment and security. Yet we often differ on attitudes to health care, gun control and capital punishment. Internationally, we have parted company on treaties regarding land mines, children's rights, climate change, war crimes tribunals and, most recently, the timing and condition on action to disarm Iraq.

The Canadian government decided that the invasion of Iraq was premature, the case of weapons of mass destruction and links to Al Qaeda not convincingly made, the requisite international support not assembled, the last resort of war not yet reached. Our attempt to build Security Council consensus through a further resolution with clear benchmarks, a set deadline and explicit consequences of armed invasion was unsuccessful. That the U.S. government came, on balance, to a different conclusion, does not set us apart, it demonstrates our independent of thought and action.

Neither Canadians nor Americans are unanimous in their opinions. Some of America's most respected political thinkers – Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Joseph Nye – agree with the Canadian decision. Not supporting the invasion of Iraq at this time is not anti-American. We must guard against our internal political debate being anti-Canadian.

Canada will continue to support a multilateral approach to complex global issues. This is consistent with our modern history and our mediation role that is respected internationally. Immediately, for Iraq, it means encouraging a UN mandate for humanitarian relief and reconstruction, and a Security Council resolution to establish an ad hoc war crimes tribunal.

More broadly, it requires fine-tuning of Canadian foreign policy to better align our diplomatic, defence, development and trade initiatives. Canada is a trusted international facilitator of dispute resolution, we are the acknowledged expert in peacekeeping, we are a respected contributor to humanitarian relief and development, and we are successful global traders. This is a unique set of attributes. Budgets are being increased and mandates reviewed. Now we must integrate our policies for optimum effect.

The security, prosperity and quality of life of Canadians are enhanced by the increased opportunities of those in other parts of the world. Co-ordinating our defence and peace initiatives with our aid to civilian populations caught in conflict, linking trade agreements to human rights, environmental and democratic guarantees, and offering our "good offices" to mediate conflicts can together achieve a coherent, positive internationalist agenda.

Stephen Owen is the Liberal Member of Parliament for Vancouver-Quadra.

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