Download March 18

Canadian Foreign Policy
and Foreign Economic
Relations
March 18
“the world needs more Canada.” –
Bono, Liberal Party Convention 2003
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Could Bono possibly be wrong?
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What is Canada’s role in the world?
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By 2005, Bono was ‘crushed’ that
Paul Martin was not fulfilling his
promises on increased foreign aid.
Middle power?
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As the US emerged as one of two
global superpowers, Canada
developed the self-image of itself as
a ‘middle power.’
Obviously not a superpower, Canada
thought of itself an influential
international player particularly
within multilateral institutions, like
the UN.
An independent foreign policy?
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Canada has struggled to develop and
maintain a degree of independence
(first of Britain and then of the US) in
its foreign policy.
Since the 1940s, Canada has
generally followed the American
lead, but there have been a few
notable exceptions.
‘a satellite of the US’ or
a ‘principal power’
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The dependency school within
Canadian political economy suggests
Canada is ‘a satellite of the US.’
The notion of Canada as a ‘principal
power’ suggests that Canada acts in
its own interests in shaping its
foreign policy.
Canada: ‘an imperialist power’
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In one interpretation of Canada as a
‘principal power,’ Canada is considered an
imperialist power that acts in a negative
and exploitive relationship with the
developing world.
Klassen: “gives qualified support to the
theory of Canadian imperialism.” “Canada
is a secondary power among the top tier
of states.” Canada participates in the
process of “collective imperialism.”
Canadian Direct Foreign
Investment Abroad
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Klassen: in 2006, Canada was the 9th
largest source of FDI flows and the 7th
largest source of FDI stocks.
In 2004-05, Canada was home to 1,439
multinational corporations.
Klassen: “Canadian corporations have a
worldwide base of accumulation from
which to generate surplus value and thus
have an independent interest in the new
imperialism.”
Canadian Mining Corporations
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Percentage of world's mining
companies registered in Canada:
60%
Percentage of total world mining
exploration attributed to Canadian
mining companies: 43%
Number of countries where Canadian
mining companies have allegedly
violated human rights: 30
Canadian Mining Corporations
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“Trouble at Canadian mining sites around the world”
http://media.thestar.topscms.com/acrobat/97/3a/580b1f54442183cc321fbcab8ea7.pdf
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“A Canadian mine - leads to conflict” Video at:
http://www.thestar.com/videozone/728667
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“Canadian mining firms face abuse allegations,”
Toronto Star. Nov, 22, 2009.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/729147
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“Copper Mesa sued for alleged assault,” Toronto Star.
Nov, 22, 2009.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/729148
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“Bullets fly over Canadian-owned mine,” Toronto
Star. Nov. 23, 2009.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/729363
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“MPs told of gang rapes at mine,” Toronto Star. Nov
24, 2009.
http://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/article/729805
Headlines from
Mining Watch Canada
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“Groups File Documentation with RCMP on
Canadian Mining Company’s Involvement in
Mexican Corruption Case”
“Another Protester Against Pacific Rim
Mining Corporation's El Dorado Project
Assassinated in El Salvador - Second
Community Activist Killed in Less Than a
Week”
“Guatemalan Community Leaders ask
Canadian Government to Investigate Human
Rights Violations Allegedly Committed by
Goldcorp Inc. at Marlin Mine”
“Kidnapping of Opponent of Canadian Mines
in Chicomuselo, Chiapas, Mexico”
Headlines from
Mining Watch Canada
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“Dangerous Levels of Arsenic Found
Near Tanzania Mine”
“Indigenous Leaders from Papua New
Guinea, Chile Raise Serious Human
Rights and Environmental Concerns
Around Barrick Gold Operations”
“Norwegian Pension Fund Excludes
Barrick Gold on Ethical Grounds”
Official Development Assistance
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Canada’s ODA as a percentage of GDP: 0.33%
(well short of the UN ‘target’ of 0.7%).
Recently, “Finance Department officials indicated
Official Development Assistance levels as a
percentage of GDP will drop from 0.32 to 0.26
over the next few years. That would put Canada
behind almost every other OECD country in terms
of percentage of GDP spent on aid, with the
exception of the US, Japan, Italy and Greece.”
http://www.embassymag.ca/mobile/story/thronespeech-03-10-2010
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Approximately 40% of Canadian aid is ‘tied’ aid,
meaning that it must be used to purchase goods
and services from Canada.
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"All That Glitters Isn't Gold" is an
hour-long documentary that tells the
stories of community members
residing near [Canadian mining
company] Goldcorp's San Martin
open-pit gold mine in Honduras' Siria
Valley.
http://www.rightsaction.org/video/gold/