— Jeremy Kinsman, former Ambassador to Russia, Italy, the European Union and Canadian High Commissioner to the UK

Justin Trudeau said in his debut campaign foreign policy speech he will rebuild mutual political confidence and cooperation at the top in Canada-U.S. relations, without jeopardizing our identity and national character. He aims to use President Obama’s remaining time to advance the case and support for strengthening our North American neighbourhood including Mexico, in ways that that can hopefully carry through to Obama’s successor.

In a more competitive and arguably less friendly world, North American partners can reinforce synergies for the 21st Century, not just in our interests but as a cooperative example for the international community logjammed on vital overarching transnational issues like the climate change/energy swirl. The big test of our credentials will be the Paris climate change conference in December where I hope to see Canada again actively in the forefront of nations working for productive international outcomes, instead of hunkering down in disapproving isolation.

My lyrical wish is that travellers again will wander around the world with maple leaf flags on their backpacks. Until a decade ago, this was a sign the bearer (not always Canadian) identified with our earned reputation for interested outreach and aspirational commitment to international problem-solving. 

That emblem channeled to less fortunate peoples Canada’s exemplary record of tolerance and inclusivity. Our balance was knocked off course by xenophobic and divisive government tactics in this election campaign. I wish us success in repairing the hurt so we recover our balance and re-engage internationally and backpack maple leaves are again badges of honour.

— Anne Leahy, former Ambassador to Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Poland, Russia, the Great Lakes Region of Africa and the Holy See

Canada’s relevance as a credible nation is the best protection for our interests and the best contribution to making the world a better place. Our voice counts when the world sees that our way of living works. It’s not about military assets or relative economic weight. It’s about good governance, socially caring policies and respectful society.

Coherence between policies at home and our stance in international fora is a pre-requisite to our influence in the world.  A government that disrespects the foundations of its own country such as Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Public Service and that has no regard for independent sources of evidence loses the respect of its partners.

A federal government must work in partnership with First Nations, provinces and cities towards a healthy and secure environment at home. This increases the credibility of its advocacy for global policies e.g. on migrants, minorities, resources management and nation-rebuilding. 

Our strengths are also our vulnerabilities and we need to build alliances to preserve our assets. Obvious ones include a welcoming society, the integrity of our northern territory, preserving our large share of the world’s water resources and the creation of the post-carbon economy. We need to build alliances and we need the protection of the international legal system, just as we believe in the rule of law at home.

Acting as if the world presented two-dimensional good-bad choices is simplistic and not sustainable.  Understanding the complexity of issues and the need for open channels of communication as actors and issues do evolve is a strength that Canadian diplomacy has contributed internationally. Restoring the wherewithal to the professional diplomatic service is a must. Investing our diplomatic efforts in what works and making it work impacts on Canadian well-being as each one of the global issues mentioned affects us.

— David Wright, former Ambassador to Spain and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Canada and its economy depend on the health and stability of the rest of the world.  We must always strive for a relationship of deep friendship and trust with the United States.  We must also be consistent in our ties with China, the dynamic Number Two power in the world.  Both of these relationships require the direct personal involvement of the Prime Minister.  

We must also engage the world more effectively through multilateral diplomacy.  I would like to see our new government embrace multilateral institutions, an approach sadly lacking in recent years.  We should be highly visible at, and supportive of, the United Nations.  With all its imperfections, the UN is still the indispensible body for world affairs.   We should carry our weight at NATO and in the G7, matching words with deeds and resources.  Canada has been a laggard on issues like climate change and Syrian refugees.  This is so uncharacteristic of our wealthy country and its generous and sophisticated population. 

In implementing this new focus in our foreign policy, I would like to see a restoration of our professional Foreign Service.  We should be inspired by the legacy and courage of Ken Taylor.  For years now, our ambassadors have been silenced and our government has discounted and discouraged professional foreign policy advice.  Short-term political gain with targeted interest groups has trumped a clearheaded assessment of our national interests based on our well-established values.   We must invest the resources, financial and human, to make a difference on international security, combating poverty, supporting human rights, promoting trade and sustaining our global environment. 

The role of the Prime Minister is crucial, not to micromanage talking points for the whole government, but to establish personal relationships that matter when our interests are at stake.  Lester Pearson, Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney and Jean Chretien all understood this and Canada benefited as a consequence.

 Canada is an important player in world affairs.  We must send a clear and early signal that "Canada is back."

— Jillian Stirk, former Ambassador to Norway

Foreign policy is the face we show to the world. It says something about who we are, our values, and our vision for the future. So what might a new foreign policy look like?  My hope is for a foreign policy that draws on Canada’s tradition of pluralism, that sees pluralism as a foreign policy asset, and a form of soft power. 

Pluralism—the willingness to embrace differences—is a fundamental Canadian value, even if from time to time it comes under threat.  Our pluralism is a unique Canadian story admired by others, and a model for those grappling with issues of governance or human rights. Pluralism serves as a magnet for investment and talent, both of which are increasingly important in a competitive global economy.

Pluralism is also at the heart of multilateral diplomacy. For years, Canada leveraged influence through multilateral organisations, advancing ideas and interests, while respecting differences and building consensus to achieve common goals. I recall from my time at the United Nations and at NATO, it was often Canada who could cut through the idée fixe, or sometimes the amour propre, to find solutions. Those instincts are still there, even if they haven’t been much on display in recent years. With international institutions under pressure to change and respond to new challenges and dynamics, there is a tremendous opportunity to put Canada back at the centre of the multilateral agenda.  

Canadians, and especially young Canadians, are more connected than ever, through ease of travel, work and study opportunities, and the technologies that link people and ideas around the world. A foreign policy rooted in pluralism would engage the more and more Canadians who are building global networks and advancing our interests in an increasingly diverse world. Foreign policy and diplomacy are no longer the purview of politicians and diplomats. Business people, foundations, scientists, aid workers, and our cultural icons are all shaping the world in ways we had not imagined, building bridges and contributing to the millions of interactions that make up international relations.

If Canada is to advance its values and defend its interests, Canadians need to embrace globalisation and global citizenship in a way we have not yet done.  We must harness our diversity and learn to see transnational identity as an asset not a liability. We must find ways to push the next generation out into the world to develop new skills and build intercultural fluency. 

My hope is that the new government will see our diversity and the value of pluralism as a springboard to the world.  No longer turned inward, this is the time to seize the moment and offer a new vision of internationalism, and an ambitious, inclusive definition of who we are and what we aspire to be.  

— Glenn Davidson, former Ambassador to Syria and Afghanistan

My observation lies not in any specific sector of Canada’s foreign policy, or what any of these are or perhaps should be, but rather in the fundamental issue of how foreign policy is managed. Simply stated, the Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development has been marginalized and weakened for several years. This does not serve Canada well, as the Department has an enormous depth of talent, knowledge, competence and experience. 

I sincerely hope that the next government of Canada will appreciate the value of this Department, loosen the grip of ‘The Centre’ on the management and conduct of foreign policy and allow the responsible Department to fully resume its normal role.  

As part of this, Departmental and other political staff should, of course, respect their role in advising and supporting their Ministers and avoid direct intervention in Departmental operations. 

— Chris Westdal, former Ambassador to Ireland, Russia, Ukraine, the United Nations, South Africa and Bangladesh

I hope that our new government will be not only more progressive than Stephen Harper's Conservatives have been, but also more conservative, with more respect for established institutions — whether parliamentary, judicial, civil, scientific or governmental — including that old establishment, the Canadian foreign service.

I hope that the wounds a decade of abuse has inflicted on our diplomatic corps will be healed, that our diplomats will be unmuzzled and unblinkered at headquarters and in the field, that our diplomatic capabilities will be revived and sustained, playing more to our strengths in the world — and doing more of our duty there.

I hope as well that our new government will look beyond the particular outlooks of ethnic diasporas to conceive and to serve national Canadian foreign interests with better balanced, more constructive foreign policy and action, including renewed cooperation with international organizations, especially the UN.  

Such rehabilitation will require material resources for DFATD capital and operating budgets at home and abroad. More important, whatever the funding, it will require change in attitudes at the top: less ideological certitude; more probing questions, fewer preconceived answers; and above all more respect for public servants devoting their professional lives to the provision of sound, non-partisan advice.