'Engagement doesn't mean agreement': Minister Stéphane Dion on Canada's foreign policy
The federal government has announced its plans to withdraw CF-18s from airstrikes against ISIS. With the focus now on training troops on the ground, we ask Minister of Foreign Affairs Stéphane Dion what this change means for Canada on a diplomatic level.
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Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/CP)
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As It Happens10:28'Engagement doesn't mean agreement': Minister Stéphane Dion on Canada's foreign policy
It's a new approach, in more ways than one.
On Monday, the federal government announced that Canada would withdraw its CF-18s from coalition airstrikes in the mission against ISIS.
Instead, the government says it will focus on training troops and providing advisory support on the ground. Canada will also provide small arms and ammunition to the troops it now plans to train. But a change in military tact is not the only way Canada is refocusing its efforts against ISIS.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephane Dion delivers a statement as he is joined by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right to left, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie Marie-Claude Bibeau and Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Stéphane Dion, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaks with As It Happens host Carol Off about his wish to take a new diplomatic approach and re-establish Canada's position as a "pragmatic" negotiator. Here is a part of their conversation.
Carol Off: Mr. Dion, we've heard over the past few days the plan for the military changes on the ground in Iraq and Syria. What has changed diplomatically?
Stéphane Dion: We will be present in all the decision making forums — military as diplomatic. It's what we intend to do. It's a matter of efficacy and principle. Efficacy because Canada has a lot to offer and principle because, at the very moment that we put some Canadians at risk, we need to be there among the decision makers.
CO: I'd just like to get at the new approach that we are lead to believe is going to come out of Canada and out of the foreign affairs department, the idea that as Prime Minister Trudeau has said: "Canada is back." So what are you going to do on the ground in these relationships?
SD: Mr. Trudeau and the Liberal government, we think that when we have a difficulty with a regime or government, it's an additional reason to speak directly to this government — to engage them. Engagement doesn't mean agreement. Engagement is better than isolation. It's against our tradition. Canada has always been there for the tough negotiations, the tough discussions. If we run away from that, because we want to be purest in our corner, I don't think we are helping Canadians and we are not helping the world. So this will change.
Canada has always been there for the tough negotiations, the tough discussions. If we run away from that, because we want to be purest in our corner, I don't think we are helping Canadians and we are not helping the world.- Stéphane Dion
CO: What, then, is our relationship with Saudi Arabia? What role do you think that Saudi Arabia should be playing in this war against ISIS? They are saying they are offering to play a larger role, to put troops on the ground. We already see the human rights record they have in Yemen. The UN panel, just recently, has said there's widespread, systematic attacks on civilians. How close do you want to work with Saudi Arabia in this region?
SD: We want Saudi Arabia to respect human rights. We want Saudi Arabia to change a lot of its behaviour. But the best way to make progress is not to pull out and try to isolate yourself. Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner in the fight against Daesh. That we like it or not, we have to work with some governments that we disagree with and it's why, in any attempt to win against Daesh, we need the cooperation of Saudi Arabia. But at the same time, we need to be very firm and to insist on the fact that each of our allies should work with full respect of human rights.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephane Dion responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
CO: So then what conditions are you putting on Saudi Arabia as you prepare to sell it 15 billion dollars worth of light-armed vehicles that will be weaponized?
SD: Canada has always been in this market. We did not receive the mandate of Canadians to pull out of the sale of weapons around the world but we have the mandate to fight for human rights. So for example, this contract with the Saudi's has been concluded before we came. We said during the campaign, "We'll not nullify the contract. We'll respect the contract." But at the same time the minister of foreign affairs has the power to not allow export permits if a weapon is not used properly. It is sold for Saudi Arabia but it must be used in a way that will be respecting human rights. The minister of foreign affairs has this capacity to look at if the contract is used in a way that it is in conformity with Canada's interest and values.
