This is the sum of government secrecy, communication technology, and the un-tamable velocity of both.

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

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.”

Despite the will of provincial leaders, the ultimate decision to ratify the agreement with Europe is for the federal government to make, but the provinces and their respective marketing boards are stakeholders in the process.

Thomson said that provincial officials continue to raise their concerns that supply management should remain intact throughout the trade negotiations with Europe.

On March 3, in the Speech from the Throne, the Conservative government signaled its continued support for supply management.

“Our Government will continue to support Canada’s farmers by ensuring freedom of choice for grain marketing in Western Canada and strongly supporting our supply-managed sectors at home and in international negotiations,” read Michaelle Jean from the government-prepared speech.

On January 15, while at the University of British Columbia, federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff weighed in on the subject. Ignatieff said that his party supports access to free markets, but he said that free trade should not be absolute.

“We believe that free trade is good for jobs, good for employment, and good for creating new markets,” said Ignatieff.  “But we want to make sure that vital Canadian interests are protected.”

“One of the big concerns that we have is to do with supply management,” said Ignatieff referring to Canadian farms. “We want to make sure those are not damaged by free trade negotiations. So free trade yes, but let’s get those negotiations right.”

Free trade

The free trade negotiations between Canada and the E.U. are part of a multi-session commitment targeted at reducing trade barriers and promoting economic growth for both parties. The Canadian government expects the comprehensive trade agreement to boost Canada’s economy by $12 billion annually.

The second round of negotiations began in January in Brussels, and three additional sessions are planned by fall of 2010. Despite focus on industries such as aerospace, chemicals, beef, wheat, wood products, fish, and automotive vehicles, there is little political appetite in Canada to compromise supply management in dairy for the sake of freer trade.

Dairy is the third largest agricultural industry in Canada contributing over $13 billion in annual sales.

While supporters point to the stability of supply management, the dairy industry in Canada has been in retreat. Since 2001, there has been an overall decrease in Canadian milk producers by 18 per cent.

More than just economics

Regulation in Canadian dairy is about more than price standardization and production quotas.  Smith said that current Canadian laws ensure that dairy products sold in Canada are not chemically supplemented with controversial hormone treatments aimed at increasing milk production.

“There are no hormones being used anywhere in Canada,” said Smith, stating that farmers must adhere to strict guidelines set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding the medical treatment of their herds, and farmers would be in violation of Canadian law if non-compliant.

Smith concedes that at the end of the day it is the federal government that makes the decisions, but as a stakeholder, he considers the dairy industry to be a healthy and sustainable model no matter what the negotiators decide.

“We think it’s still early, and we are certainly monitoring it,” said Smith, before returning to his morning tasks on his farm on Vancouver Island.



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.”