Our last column about international aid dealt with the views of front-line workers, NGO’s and charities with regards to Canada’s international aid role. Today’s piece takes a look at what our government thinks about where Canada is and should be as a member of the international aid community.

In the three weeks since the first article in this series ran, Canada has been through an election that brought the Conservative party into power with a minority government. It must be noted that there is still much fluctuation in the halls of power on parliament hill and that some of the policies below may change as Conservative ministers assume their new portfolios and set their agendas in motion while the new cabinet asserts itself. At this point it is impossible to know how much or how little Canada’s international aid role will change. But Canada did set an international operating plan in motion last year that bears reviewing.

Canada’s Current International Plan

In April 2005 the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) released an official International Policy Statement (IPS) outlining Canada’s philosophies and objectives as it moves forward on the international stage. It was the first such statement made in over a decade and the IPS subtitle declared, “Canada: A Role of Pride and Influence in the World”. The IPS outlined five major areas where Canada wanted to concentrate its resources: enhance North American prosperity, prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and create a more secure world by countering terrorism, increase Canada’s prosperity by promoting its business interests worldwide, promote respect for human rights and share expertise to reform global governance, and finally to craft “…a new multilateralism and flexible diplomacy to deal with global developments.” Grandiose statements, to be sure.

In monetary terms, the document pledged Canada would double its international assistance from 2001-2002 levels to $2.9 billion by 2010 and further augment spending in this area by $500 million in 2006. There was also a promise of more focused monetary aid to Africa by 2009. Will these sweeping commitments be kept during the Conservative party’s watch?

Because of the post-election transition period in government, CIDA officials were unavailable for comment and spokespeople for the department were unable to remark directly on what, if anything, will change or be modified to the statement, citing only that the IPS should still be considered the working document for Canada’s international plans. Regardless of what may yet happen, some officials regard Canada’s ongoing international role, and the objectives that CIDA laid out, as both crucial and positive.

Canada’s Good Reputation

Charles Philip Bassett is Canada’s executive director on the board of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington. The IDB’s mandate is to provide funding and coordinate initiatives for the reduction of poverty and the establishment of economic equality in the Latin American sphere. The Canadian contingent in the IDB receives its mandate and operating guidelines from CIDA, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Finance department.

While Canada doesn’t have tremendous voting power in the IDB (Canada holds about 4% of capital in the bank, compared to the U.S., which holds a 30% stake), Bassett believes Canada’s traditional stances and policies within the institution have made a difference for its borrowing members.

“We tend to be seen by the borrowers and the non-borrowers as people who try and play a fairly straight, balanced, constructive kind of role. So maybe we gain a little bit of additional influence because we’re not seen as trying to ram a particular agenda down somebody’s throat,” he says. Beyond that, Basset asserts that Canada plays a leadership role in promoting progressive policies within the IDB.

“On issues like gender equality… dealing with the inequality of economic benefits in the region, environment and good governance… these are issues that Canada has pushed hard and consistently in this institution,” he says. Canada also has great interest in negotiating fairness.

“We’ve got a [$6 million trust fund] that is specifically for capacity-building in trade negotiations, borne out of the concern that it’s the developing countries of the world who get completely hosed in international negotiations,” says Basset. “Because they don’t have the expertise and get creamed by the Americans, Europeans and even the Canadians. We build capacity in these countries so they can go fully equipped into these meetings and defend their own interests.” According to Basset, Canada’s amiable diplomatic reputation has made it the “go to” country when nations need advice to help make headway in negotiations. But will things stay this way?

Staying the Course or Heading for Change?

On February 6, 2006 Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his new cabinet. He appointed Josee Verner as the new Minister of International Cooperation and Peter MacKay as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Each will have a part in maintaining and solidifying Canada’s international reputation as a helping nation.

Though the IPS may be the working legacy left by the Liberals, the Conservatives look poised to alter the country’s international presence. Their 2006 election platform stated a desire to reign-in Canada’s international institutions by placing international treaties before parliament and by advancing, “Canada’s interests through foreign aid, while at the same time holding those agencies involved in this area accountable for its distribution and results.” While the Conservatives gave a nod toward emphasizing Canada’s core values of freedom, equality, the rule of law and compassion for those less fortunate on an international scale, their platform also indicated a desire to push Canada into a more protectionist mindset.

Conservative election materials declared the following: “We need to strengthen Canada’s independent capacity to defend our national sovereignty and security. In an increasingly dangerous world this ‘Canada First’ vision is required to defend our vast territory… Greater strength at home will lead to greater confidence abroad within Canada’s longstanding global role.” A $5.3 billion commitment to bolster Canadian defense spending was also outlined.

Will the new government’s plans impact Canada’s international reputation and policies? We’ll find out more over the next few months but particularly in April, when the new finance minister reveals the budget and spending priorities become clear.

Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf is a freelance writer living in Toronto. He can be reached at aajzenkopf@yahoo.com.