With their military having spent the better part of a decade amongst insurgents, improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers, Canadians have arguably become accustomed to the idea that future wars will largely consist of low-intensity counterinsurgency conflicts. As a result, many are questioning the government’s recent decision to purchase 65 stealth strike fighters—a fleet of planes that would not have been used by Canadians in Afghanistan, and instead conjures images of Cold War arms races.

The Canadian Forces expect to have 65 of the F-35 stealth strike fighters operational by 2016 at a cost potentially surpassing $16 billion. Credit: DND

Yet when he was appointed Canada’s most recent foreign minister in October 2008, Lawrence Cannon received a stack of briefing documents prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Tucked into one section was a page that discussed the global political and security environment. China figured prominently.

Click here to read the rest of this feature at Embassy magazine

Throughout Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, many have complained that the public is not receiving sufficient information from the field about the military and its operations.

Certainly journalists have stepped up to the plate to provide what the government often does not. Opinions differ, however, on whether that reporting has been comprehensive enough, and if not, then who is to blame for such scarcity.

Last Wednesday, Senators Romeo Dallaire and Pamela Wallin, co-chairs of the Senate’s National Security and Defence committee, offered an answer: The media.

During a briefing detailing their findings in an interim report on “Canada’s present and future role in Afghanistan”—they concluded that Canada should continue to train Afghan security forces beyond 2011, and encouraged Parliament to revisit the debate over extending the pullout date—the senators found themselves in a discussion over the quality of media coverage.

Click here to read the rest of the story at Embassy magazine

The Liberal party of Canada received some good advice on Sunday.

While addressing a Liberal policy conference in Montreal, former Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler had harsh, yet warranted criticism of Canada’s flailing and selfish foreign policy.

With Michael Ignatieff in attendance, Fowler attacked the Conservative and Liberal parties alike. (more…)

New high-tech Canadian passports are expected to arrive in 2011, but at this point, there remain more questions than answers.

During the Speech from the Throne on March 3, the Conservative government repeated its intent to revive its development of new biometric passports.

Microchips inscribed with your private information will soon reside inside your Canadian passport. (Photo courtesy of creative commons: kevin van lierop)

The new passports will include a microchip implanted into the back cover with digital versions of the holder’s personal information, and a digital identification signature revealing the origin of the passport.

The government hopes that the new high tech travel documents will thwart illegal immigration and will protect travelers from identity fraud and tampering.

Despite the government’s expectations questions remained un-answered.

How much will these cost?

Documents attained by Embassy News Weekly back in 2006 showed that the development costs for the new passports since 2003 had skyrocketed from $99 000 to over $2 million.

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As delegates from Canada and the European Union continue negotiations of the comprehensive economic and free trade agreement in Brussels, supply management in the Canadian dairy industry appears to be secure.

From his farm near Chemainus on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, long-time dairyman Wally Smith points out the need for Canadians to uphold the current business model of what he calls orderly marketing in Canadian dairy.

Courtesy of Creative Commons. By Martijn vdS

“Farmers across the world are in dire straits,” said Smith, whose farm has been in his family since 1959.  “We hope that our system will remain in tact.”

Supply Management

Smith, who maintains a herd of nearly 70 cows, feels that the current dairy business model administered by the B.C. Milk Marketing Board maintains viability for Canadian producers throughout economic turbulence, and also ensures that dairy prices for consumers are standard across the country.

Since the early 1970s, the marketing board has regulated milk production through quotas that balance production and consumption throughout the year. It also licenses producers, transporters and processors, and establishes the price that processors pay farmers for their milk, while preventing foreign products from being dumped into Canadian markets.

Politics and Agriculture

“The B.C. dairy industry operates on a good business model,” said Steve Thomson, B.C.’s minister of agriculture and lands, in an emailed statement. “Our dairy industry is profitable, well-capitalized, and produces a safe and high-quality product. The strength of this industry shows that supply management works.” (more…)

On Friday afternoon during Michael Ignatieff’s public address at UBC in Vancouver, a Greenpeace protest erupted threatening to derail the Liberal leader’s talk with students.

The premeditated protest happened during the question and answer portion of the evening. At the precise moment that Mr. Ignatieff responded to a question about the tar sands project, a small group seated around the stage jumped up exposing large banners and chanting “stop the tar sands.”

Mr. Ignatieff responds to a question about climate change at UBC, flanked by Greenpeace protesters

Clearly taken off guard, Mr. Ignatieff hesitated. His press secretary bolted toward the protesters down the left side of the small, stuffy theatre, but was unable to quiet them.

As many in the crowd booed the protesters, Mr. Ignatieff held his ground.

“Can I make a suggestion,” he said. “You ask a question, and you get to answer it?”

After it was clear that the Greenpeace members would not stand down, Mr. Ignatieff continued his address, flanked by two protesters holding signs displaying past quotes by Mr. Ignatieff.

One sign read: “My concern is that the tar sands are barely environmentally sustainable, barely socially sustainable…but am I proud of the industry? You bet.”

Mr. Ignatieff said that he supports a carbon cap and trade system, and the pursuit of hard climate science. He acknowledged that there must be ways to make the industry more sustainable, but felt that it was wrong to single out the tar sands as the only environmental problem for Canada.

“I will not make the tar sands the only issue,” he said, calling for comprehensive approach to climate change free from ideology and partisanship.

“I don’t take any of it back,” he said pointing to one of the banners.

Mr Ignatieff’s speech

During his speech Mr Ignatieff said that he wanted to ensure that Canada would achieve three goals during the next decade including: becoming the best educated nation in the world, the most energy efficient country, and the most international society.

He also called on the University audience to reflect on “those people not in the room.” He said that certain groups in Canada including aboriginals continue to suffer unacceptable literacy, education and incarceration rates.

“Get em in the room,” he said.

Audio: Mr. Ignatieff responds to question about the protest

Questions

Protesters hold their ground while Mr. Ignatieff continues his address at the Norm theatre at UBC.

Throughout the address Mr. Ignatieff addressed questions about issues including youth cynicism with politics, crime, and marijuana use.

At the end of the evening, when asked in the media scrum about the protest, Ignatieff said that he’s not afraid of democracy.

“I think that if a politician goes into a public meeting that he has to expect that if people are going to make protests, then they’re going to make protests,” he said. “This is a democracy. Mr. Harper says, you know, that democracy is a little turbulent; creates instability. I like turbulent democracy. I like debate. I like discussion, so I welcome anybody’s presence.”

Just over one week has passed since 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a chemical explosive aboard Northwest Airlines flight 253, and already the consequences for his actions are being felt across the globe.

In the nine days following the failed attack we find ourselves facing a reinvigorated battle against terror. New enemies, new threats, new fronts, and new opinions on how to protect ourselves against an ambiguous foe are resulting in problematic solutions to complex problems.

Nationality profiling at security checkpoints

In a contradictory move, new so-called random security screening at airports will be adjusted. According to a CBC story, citizens of Nigeria, Yemen, Pakistan, Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria will be among 14 nationalities that will experience increased scrutiny at U.S. security checkpoints beginning today. (more…)

Last night, while watching the beginning of the Canada-U.S. World Junior Championship hockey game I noticed something very alarming.

Before the drop of the puck, the public address announcer requested a moment of silence to reflect on the lost lives of the four Canadian soldiers and one Canadian journalist who died in Afghanistan this week.

The moment was anything but silent: fans cheered, jeered and waited noisily and anxiously for the game to start, thinking not, about the devastation wrought on the lives of the families who lost their loved ones due to this longest ever combat mission.

Granted, people in this country love hockey, but at what moment did politics and war depart from Canada’s collective thoughts in such a neglectful manner?

It might seem a bit of a stretch to relate this nation’s political consciousness to a ceremony at a single sporting event, but recent political strategy in Ottawa seems to be taking advantage of Canada’s political exhaustion.

Canadian governance on hold

Throughout the holiday period it is understandable that politics descend the list of Canadians’ priorities, but the government itself is now set to extend the parliamentary break until after the 2010 Olympics.

Stephen Harper made the decision recently to prorogue parliament until the spring, eliminating any further debate on the mission in Afghanistan, the committee’s investigation into the Afghan detainee scandal, and delaying a new budget and throne speech until March 4. (more…)

Omar Khadr may be leaving Guantanamo, but he is not heading to Canada.

It is expected that President Obama will announce today that over one hundred detainees — including Khadr — will be transferred to an Illinois detention centre, marking one of the first steps taken to diminish the use of the illegal U.S. military prison.

Obama said in his first week as President that he intended to close the prison; later admitting that his objective would probably be delayed.

Prisoners started arriving at Guantanamo Bay in 2002, and it continues to hold hundreds of enemy combatants. According to Amnesty International, detainees have suffered torture, abuse, and other human rights violations. Problems such as indefinite detainment, and lack of access to legal representation mark the prison as illegitimate and ad hoc.

Khadr, now 22, has been held as an unlawful combatant by U.S. military authorities since his capture as a 15-year-old in Afghanistan in 2002.

It is expected that Khadr will now sit trial facing a U.S. military commission.

Hundred of detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, while organizations like Amnesty International in Canada continue to call for his return to his home country to face trial within the Canadian legal framework.

The Canadian government has refused to repatriate Khadr despite increasing public outcry.

Long have Canadians and our governments been a guiding force in international relations, diplomacy and policy. Unfortunately, this distinction is quickly fading, and three issues rose to the forefront of the news this week; taking a bite out of our reputation in the international community.

One: The Afghan detainee confusion. Canadian diplomat, Richard Colvin, testified last week that between 2006 and 2007 Afghan detainees that were transferred by Canadian military personnel to Afghan officials probably suffered torture.

While working in Afghanistan, he filed reports of abuse based on second-hand evidence that stated that many – perhaps all – of the transferred detainees were mistreated. Colvin went on to accuse senior Canadian officials of attempting to censor his reports, thereby allowing the torture to continue.

The government response was led by Defence Minister, Peter MacKay, who stated that the government was aware of the situation as early as 2006, and renegotiated a prisoner transfer agreement with Afghan authorities in response to the torture allegations.

Former General of military operations in Afghanistan, Rick Hillier, denied ever reading the reports, and considered the accusations of Colvin to be unfounded.

The Canadian chapter of Amnesty International requested a full public inquiry, and meanwhile, the international Red Cross criticized Colvin for including them in his testimony – an action, they say, that compromises their primary concern which is communicating directly with those in need.

Lost in the cacophony of political accusations, partisanship and excuses, are the human rights implications. A full public inquiry may be the only way to bring the issue of torture and human rights back to the forefront. (more…)