Citizen X is Mid-Island Focus’s survey of issues heading into the Oct. 21 Canadian Federal Election. MiF is providing background and asking questions a typical voter might ask
Cancellation of the Nuclear Proliferation treaty; Russian probings of North American air-space; Canadians arrested in China as retaliation for Canada abiding by the terms of an extradition treaty with the USA; North Korea’s continued belligerence and development of nuclear capabilities; an intensifying trade war between the US and China; Russian interference in the 2016 US election…
It seems global tensions are ratcheting up, and Canada is caught between the muscling and jousting of superpowers. Are we a proxy in a much bigger game? If so, what is the best strategy for Canada in the coming three to five years and longer?
Should we double-down on our alliance with the US – by doing things like updating NORAD ( North American Aerospace Defence Command) and beefing up our military? Are we prepared for the punitive retribution if Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou is extradited to the US? Will Canada join other members of the ‘Five-Eyes’ alliance, and ban Huawei from participating in development of this country’s 5G network? What kind of leverage would a path of closer ties to the United States give President Donald Trump?
Citizen X would like to know:
- What are the main foreign affairs issues are heading into 2020?
- How Canada should position itself in the global context?
- How Canada should respond to immediate challenges?
What do you think? Are these the right questions?
