Welcome
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A Dialogue on Foreign Policy
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| What's new |
| Dialogue is Launched |
| Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham invited all Canadians to participate |
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| The summaries |
| New summaries now on-line, Feb. 8th |
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| Town Halls |
| Town Hall In Montreal, Feb.14th |
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| Halifax Netcast CIIA now online |
| Halifax Netcast Canadian Institute of International Affairs online, Feb. 1st |
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A Dialogue on Foreign Policy
Welcome to our electronic consultation. This is an opportunity for you to contribute to Canada's foreign policy. You can read the Minister's letter below and the dialogue paper. In response to the paper, you can answer
questions and take part in electronic discussion groups. We also have a resource section to provide you with links to foreign policy information.
A Message from the Honourable Bill Graham,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In the Speech from the Throne of last September, the Government pledged to engage
Canadians in discussion about Canada’s place in the world. As Minister of
Foreign Affairs, I am pleased to follow up on that pledge by inviting you to read
this paper, consider the questions it poses, and share your views. Whether you
choose to participate through our Internet forum, by sending a letter or by joining
in public discussions, I am interested in hearing your comments.
The past months have been particularly challenging for the international community,
and doubtless the next months will be so as well. Yet even as we deal with urgent
matters, the Government must continue to address broad longer-term issues of concern
to Canadians. I hope that as you follow daily events at home and abroad, you will
help us engage in the vital task of reflecting on choices and priorities for the
future.
In addition to conducting this dialogue, the Government is working to strengthen
Canada’s foreign policy capacities by improving planning and coordination
among the many departments whose work extends to international affairs. From agriculture
and immigration to trade, environment and health, there is scarcely any corner
of our national affairs that does not affect, and become affected by, what happens
beyond our borders. We take seriously our responsibility to ensure that all branches
of government work together in promoting the values and interests of Canadians,
both at home and abroad.
Your help is critical to this larger task. By sharing your views, you can make
our country’s foreign policy truly representative of Canadian values and
interests. As the Government assesses foreign policy priorities and directions,
we are committed to ensuring that public input and partnerships are central to
the process. It is for this reason that the consultation will be carried out on
many fronts—not only through the traditional means of public meetings and
expert input, but also through an Internet discussion forum that is designed to
be informative, interactive and readily accessible. Since I intend to report to
Canadians in June on the response generated by this discussion, I ask for your
views by May 1.
I have invited all Members of Parliament to join in this dialogue, and am asking
them to hold community meetings about foreign policy issues. The House and Senate
Standing Committees are reviewing aspects of our foreign policy, and their reports
will form part of this process. I will also be conducting public meetings around
the country to discuss the questions posed in this paper. Canadians with Internet
access are invited to take part in an ongoing electronic discussion at
www.foreign-policy-dialogue.ca.
You can also send written comments to:
A Dialogue on Foreign Policy
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
The Honourable Bill Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs
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