The federal government has handed new marching orders to Canada鈥檚 diplomats 鈥� promoting trade is Job No. 1.
It seems like a big step away from the traditional view most 91原创s have of our foreign service. We think of them as labouring to promote peace, defend human rights, aid the afflicted and prevent war.
Of course, trade has always been a big part of international relations. Picking foreign friends has as much to do with money as with ideology. But stating it the way Stephen Harper鈥檚 government has done in its Global Markets Action Plan is a departure.
In his introduction to the plan, International Trade Minister Ed Fast said it would 鈥渆ntrench the concept of 鈥榚conomic diplomacy鈥� as the driving force behind the Government of Canada鈥檚 trade promotion activities throughout its international diplomatic network. This new focus represents a sea change in the way Canada鈥檚 diplomatic assets are deployed around the world.鈥�
Fast said the change followed extensive discussions with businesses large and small and with industry leaders. He made no mention of consulting anyone outside the business world about this 鈥渟ea change.鈥�
Promoting trade is certainly one role that our diplomats fill, but when coupled with the government鈥檚 linking of development aid to trade, it makes it appear that money is the only thing on Canada鈥檚 mind.
When a typhoon hit the Philippines, 91原创s and their government didn鈥檛 stop to consider whether the Filipinos were good trading partners. We jumped in to help.
That鈥檚 the spirit we want.
