CANADIANS CHANGING THE WORLD
Mobilizing for Global Impact
Agenda 8:00
Registration and Light Breakfast
8:45
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
Robert Greenhill: Global Canada Ben Rowswell: CIC
Opening comments (by video)
9:15
Mark Carney: Governor of the Bank of England
100 years of Canadian Global Engagement
Jennifer Welsh: Canada 150 Research Chair in Global Governance and Security, McGill University John English: Founding Director, Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History Khalil Shariff: CEO, Aga Khan Foundation of Canada Ben Rowswell (moderator)
Before 1914, Canada legally, practically and attitudinally left its foreign policy in the hands of the British Empire. One hundred years ago, in 1919, Conservative Prime Minister Borden insisted that Canada have its own voice at the Paris Peace Conference. The bitter lesson of WWI was that international issues were too important to be ignored, or to be delegated to others. In 1928, Borden founded the Canadian Institute of International Affairs (which became the CIC) to keep Canadians engaged on international issues.
50 years ago, in 1969, former Liberal Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson chaired the seminal Partners in Development World Bank report that framed modern international assistance. The authors presented an “enlightened and constructive self interest” investment case: “If we wish the world to be secure and prosperous, we must show a common concern for the common problems of all peoples.”
On these two anniversaries, how important is Canada’s engaging beyond our borders to Canadian prosperity and security? How relevant is “enlightened and constructive self-interest” today? Are leaders engaging Canadians sufficiently on global issues?
10:00 Break
10:15 Discussion at table level: Canada’s Clusters of Capability
Where have Canadians made the greatest difference in your sector; where can we have the greatest impact in the future?
Canada’s global impact goes well beyond the actions of government. Canadian individuals, thinktanks, foundations, universities, businesses and civil society have all made important contributions. Participants will cluster based on sector (e.g. private sector, government, think tanks) or issue (e.g. health, human rights, security). What are concrete examples of positive results in each cluster? What are the opportunities for important impact in the future?
11:15 Public policy pitches: What Innovations would best enhance Canada’s global impact? Now it’s your opportunity to take action. Public policy entrepreneurs will make a series of short “pitches” (a combination of TED talks and Dragons Den) on opportunities for global impact. Which ideas will you support? 1. Shaping a Digital Bretton Woods: Rohinton Medhora, CIGI and Taylor Owen, McGill University 2. Indigenous Innovation and the SDGs: Jocelyn Mackie and Sara Wolfe, Grand Challenges Canada 3. Renewing Canada’s Foreign Policy: Perrin Beatty, Canadian Chamber of Commerce 4. Linking Profit with Purpose at Home and Abroad: Brian Gallant, Chief Sustainability Officer, Global Canada, former Premier of New Brunswick 5. Innovations for Climate Leadership: Steve Cornish: David Suzuki Foundation 6. Diasporas: Tina Sweeney: CIC Toronto 12:15 Lunch and Discussion with Foreign Ministers: Reflections on Personal Leadership in Advancing Canada’s Role in the world Rt Hon. Joe Clark: Former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Lloyd Axworthy: Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Bill Graham: Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Defence Hon. Peter McKay: Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Defence, and Justice Nahlah Ayed (moderator): Host of CBC Ideas 13:45 Breakouts: How to make innovative ideas even better?
Participants will discuss in breakout groups the public policy pitches that they found most promising. Are key elements missing? What could be done to enhance the proposal? How could this idea be accelerated to impact?
14:30
Break
14:45 Making Change Happen: Examples of Individual Perseverance and Collective Impact Hon. Louise Arbour: Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild: Grand Chief of Treaty 6 (Alberta); former Truth & Reconciliation Commission Commissioner; former Chair of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Valerie Galley-Bellegarde (moderator): Strategist and Policy Advisor
While political leaders and civil servants play important roles, international governance is too important to leave to governments alone. On many issues, from the fight against slavery to the challenge of climate change, individuals and civil societies were often well ahead of governments. Professor Humphrey of McGill University helped draft the UN Declaration of Human Rights despite a reticent Canadian government. In the last 40 years, Canadians have played a key role in creating and implementing new norms in human rights, including Indigenous rights, often over the passive or active resistance of state governments. At a time when many states are slipping backwards on their national and international human rights commitments, an engaged, effective civil society is more important than ever.
What does it take to lead such changes? What are the lessons for other Canadians looking to shape a better world?
15:30 Discussion at table level: Canada as a consequential country
Cluster by cluster, how can Canada be a shaper and not just a taker of the changing international order? Where do we take it from here?
Participants will discuss by table key takeaways from the day’s conversation. Conclusions will be synthesized into a report as well as indicated on Post-Its posted in the reception area. Which were the most promising pitches? What other opportunities for impact should Canada focus on? Where would participants be willing to lend a hand to move ideas forward?
16:30 Keynote: Reflections on Canadian leadership HE Rt. Hon. Michaëlle Jean: 27th Governor General of Canada and 3rd Secretary General of the Francophonie
Closing comments: Robert Greenhill Ben Rowswell
17:15 Finish of day’s program
17:15 Cocktail reception 18:15 Celebratory dinner and awards
Welcome: Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell: Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Recognition of recipients of the Global Leadership Award
Hon. Louise Arbour Lyse Doucet: Journalist and BBC International Correspondent Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild John & Marcy McCall MacBain: Co-Founders, McCall MacBain Foundation Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney: 18th Prime Minister of Canada Steven Pinker: Cognitive scientist, Experimental Psychologist, Professor (Harvard University)
Panel discussion: Understanding and improving the world
Lyse Doucet Steven Pinker John McCall MacBain
Lessons in Global Leadership
Rt. Hon Brian Mulroney interviewed by Lisa Laflamme: Chief Anchor and Senior Editor of CTV News 21:00 End of formal program
Coffee, drinks and desserts at the bar until 23:00