Some "north star"!

No guiding light here: Canada off course (Sherbrooke Record, Dec. 31, 2007)

In his Speech from the Throne, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made reference to Canada under a Conservative government as the "north star" acting as "a guide to other nations." But this government's actions since the 23rd of January 2006 have been anything but worthy of this noble title. Indeed, Canada's actions on the international level have been anything but glorious.
On the environment, the death penalty, Afghanistan or the Middle East, Canada has instead joined a select few countries interested in steering the international community off the right course.

The Conservative delegation arrived at the recent Bali conference on climate change stating that unless the major polluting countries (the US, China and India) came onside in any final agreement, Canada would not be taking the lead, the responsibility, in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This was one of the worst examples of diplomacy ever undertaken by a Canadian government.

Working against the will of the vast majority of both developed and developing countries, Environment Minister John Baird and his entourage parroted the will of the US and Japanese delegations, attempting to render useless any final document that the conference would produce. Like Harper, they showed no leadership whatsoever, meekly acting as followers. Only strong representation by Canadian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), opposition members from all parties, and progressive provincial governments, allowed the international community to gain solace in the fact that the Harper government will be a passing fad, and that there are others in this country willing to act as true "north stars."

Harper made two auspicious choices this fall regarding the death penalty. First, he determined that, in breaking with long-held tradition, he would not seek clemency for a Canadian citizen facing the death penalty in the United States.

Second, he then determined his government would not take leadership by acting as a co-sponsor for a United Nations moratorium on the death penalty. NGOs and former Canadian ambassadors to the UN cannot understand his stance, and it is arguably a major departure from traditional Canadian foreign policy positions.

Both of these moves come as the United States itself is debating the future of the death penalty, with New Jersey becoming the first state to abolish the practice in over 40 years.
Where is the leadership?

We have heard often since the Conservatives came to power that the treatment of prisoners captured by Canadians in Afghanistan is less than transparent, with cases of torture being reported frequently. Yet the Conservative government has proven unwilling to extend to its fullest extent the coverage of international law to these people. A leader respects the rule of international law, and understands that it exists for the benefits of all.

In the summer of 2006, hostilities between Israel and Lebanon increased to the state of war. During 2006, the political situation in the Gaza Strip and West Bank changed, with the political wing of Hamas assuming control of the Palestinian Authority. The Conservative government, in another clear break from tradition, chose sides.

Yes, Israel had the right to defend itself, but it was nonetheless up to countries such as Canada to assure that the conflict was contained within the bounds of the reasonable use of force, which was not the case. The decision to cut development assistance to the Palestinian Authority was also a clear shift away from what has always been a balanced and fair-minded approach to the conflict in the Middle East. So much for leadership!

These events clearly indicate that the Harper government is moving its foreign policy to one of irresponsibility, challenging the tradition of real leadership, respect for international law and balanced and fair-minded positions on international conflicts. If one cares about Canada's role in the world, one has to hope that Harper's government is rather a falling star, a short-lived, insignificant event in the larger scheme of things, and causing little in the way of irreparable damage.

William Hogg is a political studies professor at Bishop's University and the federal Liberal candidate in the riding of Compton-Stanstead.