Speaking in Calgary at the Woodrow Wilson International Center's awards dinner -- where he was honoured for his attention to international relations -- Harper left little doubt that he'll continue to press the need for Canada to accept increasing global responsibilities.
"I believe Canadians want a significant role -- a clear, confident and influential role," said Harper's prepared speech, told to several hundred onlookers packed into the Telus Convention Centre. "They don't want a Canada that just goes along; they want a Canada that leads . . . I intend to make this a country that leads."
We learn this:
Canada will not support a moratorium on bottom trawling in international waters, putting it at odds with a growing number of countries now pressing for restrictions on the controversial fishing practice...
"It really is extremely disappointing and sad and dangerous for the health of our oceans," Jennifer Lash of Living Oceans Society said from Sointula, B.C.
"Conservationists and other countries around the world are just in shock that Canada is taking such a horribly weak position when they are supposedly such a leader in this field."...
"For the Canadian government to have a dramatically weaker position than George Bush's position does not bear well for our international reputation," said Lash. "It's quite embarrassing."
A "leader" honors all of its international obligations, not just military ones. Harper's narrow view of leadership seems to embrace some warped sense that international stature is a function of might. From the onset, this government has focused on the military as the vanguard to increase Canada's role in the world. The fact that Canada has now sided with fisheries lowlifes like Spain and Japan surely doesn't say much for our reputation. Maybe if the Spanish fisherman started bottom trawling in the Northwest Passage we might see some resolve.
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