Section: Ottawa Citizen (Canada)
What they said: Three leaders on foreign policy
On accepting Syrian refugees: What image do we want to project on the world stage? Do we want a closed-off image of Canada, a laggard? Or an image of Canada that respects human rights?” – NDP Leader Tom Mulcair Security has always been a concern, and we have always been capable of striking a balance. – Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau I think...
Debating foreign policy: Tories under the gun, but NDP, Liberals must say what they’d do differently
Stephen Harper will be accused of squandering Canada’s reputation as a force for good in the world when the Conservative leader crosses swords with his NDP and Liberal counterparts in Canada’s first-ever foreign policy election debate. Yet even as they attempt to portray Harper as a warmonger who has undermined Canada’s global...
Your guide to the leaders’ debate on foreign policy
In advance of Canada’s first-ever leaders’ foreign policy debate Monday night, the Citizen examines some key differences between the parties: International trade Free trade is central to the Conservatives’ foreign policy, but it hasn’t finished many big deals. An agreement with the European Union isn’t finalized, and...
Civil society and human rights organizations call on Canada to lead Syrian no-fly zone
A Syrian peace initiative backed by civil-society organizations representing nearly 250 million people around the world is calling on Canada to lead an initiative to clear the Syrian skies of Bashar al-Assad’s bombers – the cause of more than 96 per cent of the civilian deaths in Syria, and the primary driver of the Syrian refugee crisis....
Egypt will buy Mistral-class warships, says France
Egypt has agreed to buy two Mistral-class ships from France, the French government said Wednesday. Here is the rest of the article from the Associated Press: The assault ships, which can each carry 16 helicopter gunships, 700 troops and up to 50 armored vehicles, were originally intended for Russia. France continued building to Russia’s...
High Achievers: Shawville-born wrestler close to pinning down spot at Olympics
When Gen (Hardy) Morrison started high school in Bathurst, N. B., she entered with a personal assignment attached to her academic requirements. The Shawville-born athlete, who calls neighbouring Campbell’s Bay, Que., home, was looking to adopt a new sport. Being a competitive artistic gymnast had reached its best-before date and high school...
Canada was actively pursuing possible purchase of Mistral-class ships – initiative on hold because of election
Canada was actively pursuing — at the political level — the possible acquisition of the controversial French-built Mistral-class helicopter carriers, several defence, diplomatic and military industry sources have told Murray Brewster of The Canadian Press. Here is the rest of his Canadian Press article: The effort has ground to halt, however,...
U.S. worried about Russia moving fighter jets to Syria – aircraft pose a threat to coalition forces it acknowledges
The United States is disturbed by Russia’s movement of tactical aircraft to Syria, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday, acknowledging that the jets could pose a threat to American and allied military forces, the Associated Press writes. Here is the rest of the Associated Press article: U.S. officials say Russia moved a small...
Vote shopping: 16 ’boutiques’ where Canada’s parties are selling their wares
Author Susan Delacourt argues that Canadian politics has been transformed during the past 15 years by modern scientific marketing, led by the Conservatives and with the other two major parties now following suit. Delacourt’s 2013 book, Shopping for Votes, was prescient: indeed, surveying the landscape of Election 2015 so far, it can be a...
Russia betting West will accept Syrian leader Assad, for a while at least
In ramping up its military involvement in Syria’s civil war, Russia appears to be betting that the West, horrified by the Islamic State group’s spread and an escalating migrants crisis, may be willing to quietly tolerate President Bashar Assad for a while, perhaps as part of a transition, writes the Associated Press in an analysis...
