Oh Canada...Our true international land?

McGill's 'Canada in the World' conference examines country's global standing

Canada's international profile will be closely examined by leading public figures and academics this week. The McGill Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC), which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is holding a blockbuster conference entitled "Canada in the World."

The event will feature a who's who of politics, such as Paul Cellucci, U.S. ambassador to Canada, who will give his last major speech in Montreal. Among Canadian politicians taking part will be Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs; William Graham, Minister of National Defence; Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation; and Benoît Pelletier, Quebec Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Native Affairs.

• When: February 16 to 18, 2005
• Where: Omni Hotel (1050 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal)

During this conference, a group of high-profile academics, international policy stakeholders, researchers, NGO representatives, business leaders and concerned citizens will also take part in plenary sessions that will examine crucial foreign policy issues:

• What is Canada's place in the world?
• How does Canada's location in North America determine its range of choices?
• How is Canada affected by global inequality, rising religious fundamentalism and an increasingly assertive American power?
• What rules or structures need to be put in place to deal with humanitarian crises in a timely and enduring way?
• What reforms of the international governance regime are necessary to foster dialogue and promote peaceful co-existence and cooperation among nations?

What do Canadians think about Canada's place in the world?

On the first day of the conference, Frank Graves, founder and president of Ekos Research Associates Inc., will release a major survey on what Canadians think about their country's involvement in international affairs. The Ekos "Canada in the World Survey" is likely to surprise many who think they know how Canadians think about issues ranging from globalization to defence.

"As governments and citizens re-assess Canada's role in the world, it's appropriate that Canadians should come together to review their country's presence and action in the world," says MISC Director Antonia Maioni. "Through 'Canada in the World,' we hope to better understand Canada's international policy challenges and determine how governments and citizens should react to these challenges."

For more information on MISC's "Canada in the World" conference or its speakers, please consult the website.

Any media wishing to attend part or all of "Canada in the World" must register beforehand with Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins at 514-398-6752. Please book early as seating is limited.