The many faces of Canada

In comparison with other countries, Canada has a relatively short 'formal' history -- Confederation in 1867, stable territory only as recently as 1949 when Newfoundland became a part of Canada, and repatriation of our Constitution from England just 25 years ago. We are a young nation.

But when you travel this country, starting in the Atlantic provinces, you understand very quickly that Canada has been important on the world stage since it became a landing spot for the earliest Europeans (and Vikings, before that). Moving westward, Canada was also home to very important prehistoric and aboriginal activity. These are facts not lost on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Canada has 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites. But in typical fashion, we continue to under-leverage our UNESCO designations as a way to expand knowledge about our nation. We should promote these sites not just to tourists, but even to our own citizens.

A visit to the UNESCO Canada website isn't much help either, unless you're looking for the typical boring experience only a UN website can give you. You need to search aimlessly through almost every link on the site before finding any information on Canadian UNESCO heritage sites. There is a handy interactive graphic but it is buried and not promoted off the homepage -- a wasted opportunity! This is an organization run by Canadians for Canadians. It's also the perfect international platform by which to showcase our cultural significance. It's true, I am singling out the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, an Ottawa-based taxpayer-funded organization, but the lessons run much deeper.

Over the past five years or so, Canada has systematically undermined its sovereignty and reputation on the international stage, whether by denying academics with differing points of view entrance into our country, or by sending one of our own citizens to be tortured, or by allowing our Prime Minister to espouse personal views on religion as the ideological foundation for his grip on power (which doesn't bode well for a society that promotes itself as multicultural!).

We were all taught that Canada was founded as an East-West country in a North-South continent; it was only through wise choices by past Prime Ministers that we were able to preserve -- maybe even strengthen -- a tenuous hold on nationhood against all odds as well as promote this country as a stable, safe and pragmatic place to live. Not since Trudeau have we had a leader who represents a uniquely Canadian point of view on the world stage, while at the same time challenging and holding Canadians to a higher standard of citizenship, intellect and reflection. Where has that gone in our national leadership? What are organizations like UNESCO Canada, which is part of an incredibly important international network, doing about it?

My visit to the UNESCO Canada website, and observations of its technical and design shortcomings, brought up another issue. As a nation, we are at a critical juncture in terms of our capacity to compete on a world stage. The very rapid shift over the past 25 years to a 'digital society' has meant younger generations must be integrated into positions of greater leadership in order to improve our competitiveness. While it is important that we continue to care and provide for an aging populace, older workers also represent inertia to forward movement -- they do not have the same connection to technology as someone who is younger. Despite the valuable lessons an older generation can impart, organizational leadership in the private and public sector across Canada must begin a process of rapid transformation in order to be truly competitive in an increasingly cutthroat, globalized economy. Luckily, with a small and relatively well-educated population, we have a major advantage that can be capitalized upon - we are a speedboat compared to the heavy, US freighter. Let us systematically un-tether ourselves from the big, slow boat and be more strategic in our international relations and trade. In areas of mutual advantage, we can and should collaborate, but in parallel, we must also build as much self-sufficiency as possible.

Let's also give young people a reason (opportunity!) to stay in Canada and contribute. Recent news reports have suggested that young people from India and China are returning home from the United States to start businesses and contribute to building their nation; the fact the same thing isn't happening amongst young Canadians abroad should be a concern to us all.

There's no doubt, Canada and Canadians must understand their history in order to understand their future. The world has recognized 13 critical sites across our country which we should all visit - after all, they're the analog equivalent of a national website. But perhaps as importantly, we must combine our understanding of the past with the realities of the future - it's the only way to ensure a vibrant, innovative Canada.

Speaking in tongues

We're so lucky in Canada - Nous sommes chanceux au Canada! But one of our biggest assets - our French-language heritage - is a squandered opportunity for all but the smartest Canadians.

Last Monday, I took an hour and a half out of my workday to sit a United Nations French language placement exam. I'm embarrassed to say that six years of classes throughout middle and high-school, plus six months of immersion living with a host family in St. Malo, France, did very little to help me struggle through 50 tough questions. Madame Taylor - my Grade 9 French teacher - would not have been happy.

It amazes me, day in and day out, how many of my United Nations colleagues switch between English, French and Spanish with fluidity and grace. When I try to break out my 'Francais rouillant' as I call it, the participants in my conversation know right away they're about to get the blunt end of the anglophone-trying-to-speak-
French sledgehammer. Politely, the conversation continues in English and all awkwardness is avoided.

I have been a longtime proponent of the need for our government to develop a national scheme of intra-Canada student exchange programmes. Its primary purpose would be to build language skills for French and English students across Canada, but it would also contribute to the development of a stronger understanding of Canada and its cultures by young Canadians. This in turn would discourage politicians from taking advantage of a populace that is, by and large, ignorant of the vast and diverse needs that exist between our coasts.

This lack of understanding is being played out on our national political scene right now - a pro-Alberta Prime Minister is, inter alia, hell-bent on avenging the wrongdoings of past politicians from the provinces of the East. The past is the past and politicians acted in a manner which they felt was appropriate for the time - be that right or wrong. But to frame a political approach on regional mistrust and a sense of entitlement, given the frailty of Canadian democracy and identity in an increasingly globalized world, is foolish at best. That foolishness is only compounded by the incredible short-sightedness of pinning the political and economic dominance of one province in our confederation on an industry that is the modern-day equivalent of the dinosaur, all the while promoting deep resentment. The West is indeed "in," but at what cost? From inside the United Nations bureaucracy, where I sit, I see national suicide in progress. Still, considering what's at stake, we must see beyond the petty provocation and childish impudence of the current Prime Minister (and his cronies) and instead, begin the process of healing and rebuilding our very promising country.

In that sense, our French heritage is a critical thread woven into the broader Canadian fabric. Whether it's Acadian French, Quebec French, or Metis French, we must use the resources we have to improve how we speak to each other. For now, I await the results of my UN language exam in the full knowledge that I have a handicap in addressing all Canadians in both official languages.

Fulfilling a promise

I promised myself that I would get this blog going. And frankly, the motivation couldn't be better. Let me explain.

This past weekend, at brunch with acquaintances, conversation turned to ideas and thoughts around 'sovereignty' and its connection to the recent arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir. After a meandering discussion that touched on everything from sovereignty as an imperial construct, to the hardship faced by Sudanese people as a result of the unilateral dismissal of development organizations from the country, I was asked the following question: What do you want to do with yourself?

"You mean, like when I grow up?"

"Yeah," was the response.

"Well, I would like to serve my country. I think public service is one the highest callings and I would like to be involved in the Canadian political scene."

"Why?" was the resounding question, after the snickers had died down. The problem is that, the one-word question was really short form for 'why would you bother? Canada's such an insignificant country.'

The snickering incensed me and it must have been obvious - really obvious - that I was upset. I made it clear that it wasn't because of the question surrounding my future ambitions. That has been known to change based on personal context and preference. I was upset because, I hate to see Canada continually get short shrift.

I got an email this morning, the most important part of which I have excerpted here:

[SNIP]
Hi Stephen,

It was great to talk to you yesterday. I wanted to say that I was only teasing about Canada - and while my question about your future is based on genuine interest in your capabilities and ambitions, I didn't in any way mean to make you feel uncomfortable.

[END SNIP]

Did she get the point?

This is not about me, not even a little bit. This is about respect for the country I call home.

Let me be clear - I do not support the current Government of Canada or its policies. I don't support the acrimonious, unsophisticated, black-and-white-you're-with-us-or-you're-not direction Canadian politics has taken over the last six or so years. I barely support the current party landscape in Canada. But I am unwavering in my belief that Canada was -- and could be again in the future -- a voice for moderation, balance and tolerance in what is an increasingly belligerent, violent and intolerant world. The future of our country and the view others have of Canada can only be shaped by the calibre of our representatives in parliament and the quality of policy advice and guidance that flows from there.

Frankly, there's lots of work to be done.

In that sense, the title of this blog post serves a dual purpose: I'm on the blogging scene, which is something I've been wanted to do for a while; and, I'm hoping to share with you, as suggested in the title and subtitle of this blog, some miscellaneous ramblings based on a unique and personal perspective from a Canadian inside the United Nations. The hope is to make some contribution towards getting Canada the respect it deserves once again.