Diplomacy and neutral partnerships in foreign aid.

From Vision Green 2007 – “Canada’s foreign policy has been emblazoned with the label of 3-D approaches. The D’s are Diplomacy, Development and Defense.”
This is a difficult and tricky subject but political neutrality in foreign aid delivery is also essential to the strengthening of the recipient state. Many of the combined failures cited in previous sections are also triggered by competing political dogmas. The Conservative Government in Canada has a profound philosophical disagreement with Venezuela, Cuba, and Bolivia. The Conservatives in keeping with the politics of fear foster the belief that these countries pose a threat to regional stability and ignore their contributions in the region. Politically neutral foreign aid would also have an effect on our relationship with the United States and this is no small consideration but we must recognize that these other countries under the auspices of ALBA (Bolivarian Alternative for the People of Our America) have made solid commitments in Haiti. Some of these commitments reflect our own Green Party philosophies. They have made commitments in the areas of medicine, energy conservation, and fair trade. Haitian President Rene Preval has so far walked a successful line of diplomacy between Canadian/U.S. foreign aid and Venezuelan/Cuban foreign aid. The Green Party must have the courage to reject the politics of division and promote unity with these other donor countries and create viable, diplomatically neutral partnerships. ALBA is a growing force in the region and the Green Party should demonstrate that we have vision to recognize this. We should not be blinded by the propaganda war between Venezuela, Cuba and the U.S. or the cult of personality that surrounds President Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro. Diplomatic neutrality on foreign aid programs should not prevent us from being critical of these Governments in areas of concern. (Cuba’s human rights record is an example of this as is Hugo Chavez’s recent attempts to ‘bend’ the Venezuelan Constitution to satisfy his personal ego and ambition.) These are the kinds of distinctions that will separate us from the other Canadian political parties and our allies in the world. We will receive short term rebukes from allies and ridicule from the media but our gains in international stature and respect will be immense. Canada will become a true voice of reason and hope for many emerging countries as well as progressive political movements within the United States and other ally nations.