Canada’s International Development Strategy in the Conservative Era: Staying the Course or Charting a New Path?

Couchiching Ottawa Round Table

Canada’s International Development Strategy
in the Conservative Era:
Staying the Course or Charting a New Path?

Co-sponsored by Macera and Jarzyna, LLP

Thursday, November 20, 2008
7:00–9:30 pm
Minto Suite Hotel
185 Lyon Street
Ottawa

The first term of Prime Minister Harper’s minority government was marked by uncertainty over the future direction of Canada’s approach to official development assistance (ODA). Aside from pronouncements on Canada’s renewed focus on the Americas, little concrete information has surfaced over how this will affect, and has affected, the nature of Canada’s engagement with the rest of the developing world. Now into its second term, the Conservative government is under pressure to clarify its approach. While legislation has been passed that ensures Canada’s ODA be committed to reducing poverty, it is unclear where these efforts will be focused, both geographically and thematically. Furthermore, given the current context of global economic uncertainty, it is also unclear whether Canada will tighten its belt and defer planned increases in ODA or continue them as planned. Lastly, with a recent commitment to pull the Canadian Forces out of a combat role in Afghanistan by 2011, will humanitarian assistance be increased to help fill the gap?

To help guide interested participants through this fog and lead the debate on possible future directions for Canada’s foreign assistance strategy, Dr. Ian Smillie will serve as the keynote discussant during this roundtable event. Dr. Smillie has 30 years of experience in the field of international development as a programmer, evaluator, and writer. He has managed large development enterprises in Canada, Africa, and Asia, was a founder of the Canadian development NGO Inter Pares and was director of one of Canada's largest NGOs, CUSO. As consultant to a wide range of governmental and non-governmental organizations for the past 15 years, he has been involved in a range of development initiatives in South Asia and Africa. He has written extensively on various aspects of development, including a piece in the September edition of the Literary Review of Canada on humanitarian relief.

A small participation fee of $20 for adults and $15 for students covers appetizers and venue expenses. Refreshments will also be available through a cash bar.

Call 416-642-6374, 866-647-6374, e-mail couch@couch.ca, or register online using our secure online registration form. The deadline is 5 pm on Monday, November 17.

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