Two former Canadian political heavyweights sat down for a discussion at the University of Victoria's Farquhar Auditorium about the current state of Parliament and the future of the country's role in foreign affairs at the Victoria Forum.
On Tuesday, Aug. 27, former prime minister Joe Clark and former minister of foreign affairs Lloyd Axworthy hosted a plenary session at UVic, moderated by Senator Lucie Moncion as part of the last day of the forum.
Axworthy explained to the crowd of students, professionals, and politicians how the Canadian political landscape has changed since he was first elected to Parliament in 1977.
“There's not a real engagement with the community as when I first met Mike Pearson, who came to talk about what it is to be a politician when I was 16 years old,” said Axworthy, adding that political engagement and community involvement are declining as people withdraw from traditional social institutions, which are being replaced by technology – specifically smartphones. This shift is leading to social isolation, even when people are physically together.
He also spoke about how, despite political differences, party members could debate and compromise across party lines while still having friendly relationships in the 20th and early 21st centuries.
"Now, if you go to a policy conference of the Liberal Party, they have an hour and a half set aside for a discussion of the world and foreign policy, and it's usually pointed by three Americans who tell us what to do. I would not call that a conversation," he said.
Clark highlighted a concerning shift in political influence where the prime minister's advisors, who lack direct community ties, are gaining more power than elected members of Parliament, who traditionally had strong local connections and were central figures in their parties.
"We are developing an institutional disconnect, and it's not of one party against another, it could well be of people who were in politics in an earlier era against the stifling developments that have occurred now," Clark said.
The two also spoke about Canadian attitudes regarding politics and international affairs.
Axworthy mentioned how close to 70,000 refugees fled to Canada from French Indochina in the 1940s and '50s, with 60% of those refugees coming on private sponsorships by Canadians.
"What a testimony to the notion that Canadians want to be involved," he said. "(Canadians care about international affairs) because they see that as part of our identity and as something they want to be involved in."
Axworthy noted that Canada used to be unique in its high public support for immigration, with over 70% of the population in favour. However, he believes this has changed due to a loss of control over the immigration system. He also criticized the current approach to international students.
"What we're doing now isn't an immigration policy, it is a federal transfer policy to supplement the absence of federal government support for higher education. It's a Ponzi scheme, in my view," said Axworthy.
To close the talk, Clark spoke about Canada's role internationally, and its potential in securing a closer relationship with African countries now that France, Britain and the U.S. relationships are unsteady due to their history of imperialism and colonialism throughout the continent. He spoke about Turkey taking advantage of the former colonial powers leaving the region, and being the new "aggressive European power" in Africa.
"Of the Western countries, we have stronger potential credentials than others in a region that is increasingly important," Clark said. "I don't want to exaggerate the influence we could have there but the fact that we have been an understated but sympathetic and constructive partner to so many countries in the world, it gives us real advantages in Africa and elsewhere."
Clark is now a board member of the Global Leadership Foundation, and Axworthy is chair of the World Refugee and Migration Council. Both have an extensive career is diplomacy and international affairs.
