Experts alarmed by lack of foreign policy talk during election

Not a moment too soon, say foreign policy experts, who accuse federal leaders of largely drawing the blinds during their campaigning on how they'd cope with the forces beyond Canada's borders that will shape the country they are vying to lead.Canada's role in the world is almost never a dominant theme in federal elections, but experts argue there's never been a more important time in recent memory for party leaders to get a grip on how they would steer the country.

Six party leaders will be on stage on Monday, but the focus will be on Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, the two frontrunners. Canadians were deprived of a separate debate on foreign policy after the Toronto-based Munk Debates cancelled its event, set for last week, because Trudeau declined an invitation.

Meredith Lilly, an international trade expert at Carleton University, said the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is inferior to the old NAFTA because it is "more cumbersome and complicated and actually reflects less free trade." But Trudeau had choice but to accept the compromised deal to maintain Canada's market access to the U.S., she said.Ratification of the new deal -- christened the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA -- hangs in the balance in the U.S.

Sarah Goldfeder, a former U.S. diplomat turned consultant who advised two American ambassadors to Canada, said the campaign is an appropriate time for Trudeau and Scheer to explain how they would try to build new alliances for Canada "with the United States and China focused on each other, and the international rules-based order disintegrating around everybody."

Fair enough, but Scheer is woefully short on specifics of how he'd repair relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Colin Robertson, a retired diplomat and vice-president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

Trudeau’s foreign policy, dazzle them with dance

There are plenty of serious issues impacting Canadian citizens that need to be fixed before any money is spent outside this country

Not surprising, they are too occupied slamming each other rather than putting time and effort into the issues. Most disappointing election ever thus far.

Oh we got foreign policy. Indie dance when necessary. Invite people with links to Terror. Reward terrorists with millions.

What do you mean “foreign”, bigots? Canada is post-national and belongs to the world. There are no foreigners out there, only new Canadians who haven’t had a chance to visit yet.

Trudeau declined to participate at foreign policy debate.

Trudeau done enough with the foreign policy turning Canada in to a world joke next to the UK.

Both leaders are lightweights. A sad day for Canada.

He’s a laughing stock internationally. He skipped the only debate focused on foreign policy because his handlers know he’s a train wreck and you, the media give him a pass!

If only there was a debate scheduled! our prime minister dodged this debate but, on a positive note, little potatoes are delicious.

I believe we need to only have peacekeeping missions and no peacemaking or combat missions to fulfill a war-mongering agenda that the CPC_HQ or AndrewScheer would much Love to happen.

Well Sheer and the cons just want a mud fight. No policy domestically and couldn't give a shit about anyone but themselves and their evangelical nut bar followers.

I believe we must stand up to the USA and not let them take advantage of us like realDonaldTrump is trying to do in many cases.

theJagmeetSingh will have a non-interventionist approach I believe is the NDP win which I think would be best for Canada CanadaDebates2019 canadavotes2019

I'm not sure what JustinTrudeau plans on doing with our foreign policy? Will it be Status quo or something new if Libs win?

AndrewScheer will fund israel and look to kill innocent children in third world countries; he's a conservative it's what they do.

There's one candidate with a real foreign policy that doesn't involving buying our way onto the UN Security Council

There has been zero talk, it is alarming.

Or any meaningful policy for that matter

Cause he never had foreign policy... He tried to dazzle world leaders with the topic of sox

Does JustinTrudeau even have a foreign policy? If so, perhaps his mouthpiece (CTV News) could explain it to us!

Trudeau wouldn't participate in the Munk debate so they shut it down. What is so comical about JustinTrudeau is that he skipped the debate when one of the most important things the PM does is deal with foreign affairs on behalf of Canadains.

Yeah...experts be like that sometimes.

Justin missed the Munk debate on foreign policy. On a brighter note:

Wasn't this debate on foreign policy? cdnpoli elx43

that headline

So you mean they are actually focusing on the country at hand? I know scary but I’m sure there are more important things to discuss.

So called experts. Who exactly? RosieBarton? There are more important topics to discuss. Camping, who is going to plant the most trees, this election is total farce. Nobody running deserves to be PM. We are voting for someone who do the least damage to the country. Sad.

the Trudeau government is the laughing stock of the world, can u imagine how one could take this moron serious after a decade of black face. Just that alone is beyond pathetic. I hope all u liberals got lots of money your going to need it. Things are going to get very expensive.

I’m not, we can’t even get our own Canadian affairs in order with these clowns.

Too deep a topic for Justin. Shallow as a turtle pool, that boy.

He got us one trade deal in 4 years and that’s to bring our garbage home from the Philippines, o ya we can’t forget the constant flow of isis terrorists. Remember a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian except if your born here and your father was not, then your scum.

You think that stupid c*** JustinTrudeau wants to talk foreign policy lol - about as much as 17 year old students, black face/systemic racism, SNCLavalin, VANorman AgaKhan Groping etc liberal_party cdnpoli

what are we supposed to talk about? Trump's betrayal over the Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou affair? How Trump opened the NAFTA deal and we got screwed again? How the USA has abandoned NATO in favour or NATO's enemies?

Hey maybe munkdebate should not have cancelled their debate and Canada’s glorious leader JustinTrudeau should have been criticized more for not agreeing to attend. Munk should have held debate without Trudeau. Canadian media needs to stop protecting our little potato. cdnpoli

Thank the media. They know how weak and pathetic Trudeau is on that file and don't want to damage their darling.

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Here are all the Ontario school boards that will close Monday if CUPE strikesWith a potential strike for thousands of CUPE workers looming, school boards across Ontario are indicating whether or not their facilities will remain open in the event of job action. CUPE will use strikes to increase their stronghold, they DONT CARE ABOUT CHILDREN.... FOLLOWING the gravy train, and making political donations They face cuts due to smaller class sizes and poor results I assume the teachers are still teaching via Skype etc. Every student has access to phones or computers at home. Why are some boards open? What is the difference in safety? Parents scrambling to make plans for their kids want to know.
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