Sustainable Development Goals: an action plan for everyone
Like a growing number of people and organizations in Canada, I am proud to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Have you heard of them? I could describe them as a global call to action to end poverty by 2030. I could also list the 17 ambitious goals, which represent the most pressing […]
Amidst chaos, G7 Summit unleashed a quiet, yet powerful force
Families ripped apart, children detained: these tragic images are flooding our timelines and televisions. Halfway around the world, a boat of migrants travelling from Libya is turned away by Italy. One after the other, more boatloads of people in search of safety are left lingering on the open seas, in limbo and unsure if or […]
On foreign policy, Trudeau’s Liberals are long on rhetoric, short on action
Is Canada back? That is the question we ask in our most recent issue of the Canadian Foreign Policy Journal (CFPJ). Leading Canadian scholars examine the Liberal government’s branding of its foreign policy to steal votes from the opposition, target a new generation of social media-savvy voters, and scoop up those left marginalized by a […]
Hats off to Canada for G7 aid commitment
United States President Donald Trump’s series of insults is still continuing to feed the news cycle, many days after the G7 summit in Charlevoix, Que., and seem to have built a movement of all-party national pride. But where true political courage was shown was not only in standing up to our bullying neighbour, but also […]
Seeking proof of Canadian impact in Kenya
We boarded a plane in May as a cross-parliamentary delegation, eager to experience the impact that Canada is making in Kenya. From the start, we were aware this would be no ordinary trip. But what we experienced changed us forever. The girls at St. Elizabeth’s School and Rescue Centre had all fled their homes to […]
It’s time Canada re-engage with the UN Industrial Development Organization
It’s true that the world needs more Canada, especially the developing world. Attempts to not only alleviate the worst aspects of poverty, but to also provide a path to prosperity have been somewhat hit and miss. Governments, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, and billionaires all have their own programs and philosophies; the results are generally positive […]
Famous 5 Ottawa speech: Celebrating New Zealand’s first female prime minister
Good evening, everyone. My name is Julia, and I am thrilled to be here today. I work at Global Affairs Canada, an organization with many international mandates, including political, trade, consular, and international assistance. I focus my efforts on international assistance, where we try to do things like eradicate poverty and support the empowerment of […]
After G7 gains on gender equality, environment, it’s time to focus on policy coherence
As we emerge from the G7 summit this past weekend in Charlevoix, Que., it is important to underline the progress that was made on several key issues, especially given the highly volatile and charged political context. As we look forward, we must seize the opportunity this progress presents, to infuse greater coherence in Canada’s policies […]
Reduce plastic use to bolster environment, and economy
Last week was Canadian Environment Week, a time to reflect on humanity’s impact on the natural world and what individuals can do to preserve the planet for future generations. Unfortunately, reflection is often as far as we go, once day-to-day concerns return to dominate our thoughts. This is a mistake. Not just because it ignores […]
Canada leads the way to a historical pledge of $3.8 billion at G7 for girls’ education in conflict and crises
It’s been more than five years since I spoke to Zeinab, a young girl from Syria living in a tattered tent within a makeshift refugee camp in Lebanon. But her story is seared into my memory, one of both paralyzing fear and burgeoning hope. It’s Zeinab who I think of today when celebrating the G7’s historic […]
