Question Period Note: CANADA'S FOREIGN POLICY APPROACH

We are operating in a more contested and uncertain global environment. That is why the government is driving a new approach to foreign policy that is both principled and pragmatic.

»Principled, in that we engage deeply with partners who share our values; pragmatic, in that we engage cleareyed with partners whose values differ from ours, when doing so strategically advances our interests.

»In the past 6 months, the government has secured 12 trade and security partnerships across 4 continents. These initiatives will help defend Canadian sovereignty, build a strong and resilient domestic economy, and advance strategic autonomy.

»And we are working with partners - both inside and outside international organizations - to solve global problems. The G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance is one example; the Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children is another.

In this moment of economic stress for our country, Canada's foreign policy rests on the actions we are taking at home to strengthen economic resilience and strategic autonomy.
Our trade diversification strategy aspires to double Canada's non-U.S. exports over the next decade. Accordingly, Global Affairs Canada is focusing on growing areas of key competitive advantage and engagement with the world's fastest growing markets.
Canada will be present and engaged with partners around the world, working collaboratively where our interests align and where cooperation can deliver tangible benefits.
Our approach is pragmatic, which is why you have seen this government engage more frequently and actively with new partners. This means balancing the benefits of engagement with important and dynamic economies, while mitigating threats to the safety and security of Canadians.
Through economic diplomacy, the approach is to strengthen government to government relationships to open doors for Canadian industry, attract investment into Canada, and anticipate international developments that may impact Canada's economic interests. The department is leveraging its network of diplomatic missions to provide economic insights and advocate for Canada's economic interests abroad, in support of our trade diversification strategy.Implementing Canada's foreign policy will require adjusting the tools in our toolkit, including international assistance, to best serve Canadians.
Canada is an advocate of multilateralism. But we must acknowledge that some multilateral institutions are both increasingly ineffective and under threat.

In recent pronouncements, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has stated that Canada's foreign policy is guided by three pillars: (1) building a strong and resilient domestic economy, with the goal of doubling non-US trade over the next decade; (2) protecting Canadian sovereignty, including through strategic investments and partnerships in defence and security; and (3) upholding our principles and values, including international law and international humanitarian law.

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