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National Observer
15 hours ago
- Politics
- National Observer
'We cannot waste any time': Anand pledges 'action' and reform in foreign affairs
Faced with escalating conflict in the Middle East, a collapsing global trade system and a department struggling to reform itself, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says she relishes the job of helping Canada navigate a turbulent world. In a wide-ranging interview Thursday with The Canadian Press, Anand said her experiences in both politics and academia can help her streamline Canada's approach to global issues, allowing it to pursue its interests without losing sight of its values. "How do you ensure, when you have these large departments, that you're actually able to execute? That is the heart of government. It's the hardest thing to do," Anand said. "I enjoy difficult responsibilities." She cited her time as defence minister, when she pushed the Canadian Armed Forces to address sexual misconduct and organized donations of military supplies to Ukraine's front line. Previously, as procurement minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, she pushed one of Ottawa's largest and most unwieldy departments to deliver vaccines across the country within days. Anand spoke of "how hard it was to say, like, we gotta buy this stuff today." "That's kind of the same frame that I'm bringing to foreign affairs and it's super exciting," she added. Anand said her job involves listening closely to what the foreign service says, even if she doesn't always follow its guidance. "You have to think independently, taking into account the advice that you receive, but also ensuring that you're discharging your obligations to the Canadian public," she said. "I welcome the advice that my officials provide, but at the end of the day, the decisions that I make are based on an independent judgment about what is best for our country in terms of our diplomatic relationships and our foreign policy." Much of her job, she said, involves supporting Prime Minister Mark Carney 's quest to make Canada less dependent on the US for trade and defence. "We are considering every option to strengthen our collaboration with reliable trading partners and allies around the world," she said. "My role as foreign minister is to stand up for Canada in that process and to ensure that we are also standing up for peace, the safety of civilians and the respect for international law." Carney has set the tone for much of Canada's foreign policy and Anand is accompanying the prime minister on a diplomatic trip to Europe next week. Canada will sign an agreement Monday in Brussels with the European Union that largely focuses on defence procurement. Carney and Anand will then head to the NATO summit in the Netherlands, where they hope to use new spending pledges from Canada and allies to keep the United States committed to collective defence. Carney's approach to foreign policy features a major tilt toward Europe and might include more outreach in Asia and Africa ahead of summits he is set to attend this fall on both continents. While his government is heeding allies' calls for a steep increase in defence spending, it's also bucking an international trend by promising not to cut foreign aid. "We are deeply committed to multilateralism over unilateralism, to global co-operation over increased protectionism," Anand said. "We must showcase Canada's values in terms of peace, safety of civilians, and respect for international law. But we're at a time where we also need to strategically advance our economic interests here at home, and to ensure that we have defence and security arrangements in place for the protection of our own country." She said her ministerial background in defence, procurement, transport and the Treasury Board — which oversees all other departments' spending — gives her a unique perspective on how governments can actually follow through on their promises. At the recent G7 summit in Alberta, she had a front-row seat as Canada's closest peers drafted statements on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to transnational repression. The summit allowed her to meet face-to-face with both representatives of Ottawa's traditional allies and officials from emerging nations with increasing clout — including her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Carney government is moving to restore diplomatic relations with India — a controversial move, given the recent history between Ottawa and New Delhi. In 2023 and 2024, former prime minister Justin Trudeau and the RCMP said there was evidence linking agents of the Indian government to the murder of Canadian Sikh separatist activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, BC, in June 2023. Last October, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said the police force had evidence linking Indian government officials to other crimes in Canada, including extortion, coercion and homicide. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service identified India as one of the main drivers of foreign interference in a report it released this week. Anand said Ottawa is trying to restore parts of "a long-standing relationship that has been put on hold for the last couple of years," while respecting the law and institutions like the RCMP. "The global strategic environment is very volatile and we need to carefully ensure that we are respecting the foundations of our democracy," she said. Anand was born and raised in Nova Scotia by parents who immigrated from India. As a lawyer and professor in Toronto, she focused on the field of corporate governance — on how companies can reform the way they operate. Global Affairs Canada itself is under heavy pressure to change the way it works. The department launched a reform plan in February 2024 that included an admission that it can be "slow to react or not focused enough" when major crises erupt, and that its staffing policies aren't keeping up with its growing responsibilities and tighter budgets. Things have only grown more complex since then, with Washington cutting back on foreign aid and moving closer to a revanchist Russia, while China pitches more trade with Canada and other countries. Canada has meanwhile promised to appoint new ambassadors across Africa and to open new embassies in Fiji and Benin, while somehow containing spending across government. Canada's critics have a history of claiming it's all talk when it comes to international relations. Trudeau was frequently criticized for raising human rights issues and inserting environmental policies in trade deals while failing to meet his government's defence spending targets or supply allies with liquefied natural gas. Foreign diplomats and departmental staff describe Anand as cautious, attentive and focused on results. While she's taking some time to get thoroughly briefed, she wants to deliver a lot — and soon. "We have so much work to do and we cannot waste any time doing it," she said. "I am action-oriented myself and the prime minister knows this about me. And that's why we will make a good team on the foreign affairs front." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
21 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘We cannot waste any time': Anand promises ‘action' and reform in foreign affairs
OTTAWA – Faced with escalating conflict in the Middle East, a collapsing global trade system and a department struggling to reform itself, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says she relishes the job of helping Canada navigate a turbulent world. In a wide-ranging interview Thursday with The Canadian Press, Anand said her experiences in both politics and academia can help her streamline Canada's approach to global issues, allowing it to pursue its interests without losing sight of its values. 'How do you ensure, when you have these large departments, that you're actually able to execute? That is the heart of government. It's the hardest thing to do,' Anand said. 'I enjoy difficult responsibilities.' She cited her time as defence minister, when she pushed the Canadian Armed Forces to address sexual misconduct and organized donations of military supplies to Ukraine's front line. Previously, as procurement minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, she pushed one of Ottawa's largest and most unwieldy departments to deliver vaccines across the country within days. Anand spoke of 'how hard it was to say, like, we gotta buy this stuff today.' 'That's kind of the same frame that I'm bringing to foreign affairs and it's super exciting,' she added. Anand said her job involves listening closely to what the foreign service says, even if she doesn't always follow its guidance. 'You have to think independently, taking into account the advice that you receive, but also ensuring that you're discharging your obligations to the Canadian public,' she said. 'I welcome the advice that my officials provide, but at the end of the day, the decisions that I make are based on an independent judgment about what is best for our country in terms of our diplomatic relationships and our foreign policy.' Much of her job, she said, involves supporting Prime Minister Mark Carney's quest to make Canada less dependent on the U.S. for trade and defence. 'We are considering every option to strengthen our collaboration with reliable trading partners and allies around the world,' she said. 'My role as foreign minister is to stand up for Canada in that process and to ensure that we are also standing up for peace, the safety of civilians and the respect for international law.' Carney has set the tone for much of Canada's foreign policy and Anand is accompanying the prime minister on a diplomatic trip to Europe next week. Canada will sign an agreement Monday in Brussels with the European Union that largely focuses on defence procurement. Carney and Anand will then head to the NATO summit in the Netherlands, where they hope to use new spending pledges from Canada and allies to keep the United States committed to collective defence. Carney's approach to foreign policy features a major tilt toward Europe and might include more outreach in Asia and Africa ahead of summits he is set to attend this fall on both continents. While his government is heeding allies' calls for a steep increase in defence spending, it's also bucking an international trend by promising not to cut foreign aid. 'We are deeply committed to multilateralism over unilateralism, to global co-operation over increased protectionism,' Anand said. 'We must showcase Canada's values in terms of peace, safety of civilians, and respect for international law. But we're at a time where we also need to strategically advance our economic interests here at home, and to ensure that we have defence and security arrangements in place for the protection of our own country.' She said her ministerial background in defence, procurement, transport and the Treasury Board — which oversees all other departments' spending — gives her a unique perspective on how governments can actually follow through on their promises. At the recent G7 summit in Alberta, she had a front-row seat as Canada's closest peers drafted statements on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to transnational repression. The summit allowed her to meet face-to-face with both representatives of Ottawa's traditional allies and officials from emerging nations with increasing clout — including her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Carney government is moving to restore diplomatic relations with India — a controversial move, given the recent history between Ottawa and New Delhi. In 2023 and 2024, former prime minister Justin Trudeau and the RCMP said there was evidence linking agents of the Indian government to the murder of Canadian Sikh separatist activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., in June 2023. Last October, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said the police force had evidence linking Indian government officials to other crimes in Canada, including extortion, coercion and homicide. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service identified India as one of the main drivers of foreign interference in a report it released this week. Anand said Ottawa is trying to restore parts of 'a long-standing relationship that has been put on hold for the last couple of years,' while respecting the law and institutions like the RCMP. 'The global strategic environment is very volatile and we need to carefully ensure that we are respecting the foundations of our democracy,' she said. Anand was born and raised in Nova Scotia by parents who immigrated from India. As a lawyer and professor in Toronto, she focused on the field of corporate governance — on how companies can reform the way they operate. Global Affairs Canada itself is under heavy pressure to change the way it works. The department launched a reform plan in February 2024 that included an admission that it can be 'slow to react or not focused enough' when major crises erupt, and that its staffing policies aren't keeping up with its growing responsibilities and tighter budgets. Things have only grown more complex since then, with Washington cutting back on foreign aid and moving closer to a revanchist Russia, while China pitches more trade with Canada and other countries. Canada has meanwhile promised to appoint new ambassadors across Africa and to open new embassies in Fiji and Benin, while somehow containing spending across government. Canada's critics have a history of claiming it's all talk when it comes to international relations. Trudeau was frequently criticized for raising human rights issues and inserting environmental policies in trade deals while failing to meet his government's defence spending targets or supply allies with liquefied natural gas. Foreign diplomats and departmental staff describe Anand as cautious, attentive and focused on results. While she's taking some time to get thoroughly briefed, she wants to deliver a lot — and soon. 'We have so much work to do and we cannot waste any time doing it,' she said. 'I am action-oriented myself and the prime minister knows this about me. And that's why we will make a good team on the foreign affairs front.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Celebration of navy, armed forces comes to Halifax this week
The HMCS Montreal is pictured in the background. (Source: Jesse Thomas/CTV News Atlantic) Halifax will host a celebration of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Armed Forces this weekend. Halifax International Fleet Week runs from Thursday to Sunday, offering ship tours, concerts and a drone light show along the harbourfront. The event kicked off with the ringing of the bell at 11 a.m. on Thursday. It was followed by a pop-up concert with the Stadacona Band at the Queen's Marque Courtyard. Announcement Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, the commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, along with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore, officially announced the opening of Halifax International Fleet Week 2025. (Source: Jesse Thomas/CTV News Atlantic) Highlights of the weekend include: dragon boat race at Graham's Grove Park in Dartmouth at 8:30 a.m. on Friday Navy Bike Ride at 10 a.m. on Saturday presentation on the First World War at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday Halifax Wanderers home game at the Wanderers Grounds at 3 p.m. on Saturday a drone light show over the Halifax Harbour at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday the Fleet Week Run at the CFB Stadacona at 9 a.m. on Sunday Last Post ceremony at the Last Steps Memorial Arch at 11 a.m. on Sunday a street party on Portland Street in Dartmouth from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday Fleet Week will also offer daily tours of the HDMS Vaedderen at Pier 23, the HMCS Charlottetown at Pier 20 and the HMCS Margaret Brooke at Pier 19. HMCS Montreal The HMCS Montreal is pictured in the background. (Source: Jesse Thomas/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
This is the design for the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan
The National Capital Commission unveiled final designs for the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan. It will be built on Booth Street across from the Canadian War Museum. (National Capital Commission/release) Construction is set to begin next spring on the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan. The National Capital Commission approved the design for the monument that will be located on Booth Street at LeBreton Flats across from the Canadian War Museum. It will be located near the National Holocaust Monument. 'The National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan will serve as a testament to the commitment and sacrifice of Canadian Armed Forces members, police officers, public servants and civilians who served in Canada's mission in Afghanistan,' the federal government said on its website. 'The Monument will also recognize the strong support offered by Canadians at home to those who served during the mission.' Ottawa monument The National Capital Commission unveiled final designs for the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan. The monument on Booth Street across from the Canadian War Museum is expected to be finished in 2028. (National Capital Commission/release) The design of the monument, developed by Team Stinson, draws on elements of healing from a Medicine Wheel, with four portals and an interior area described as a 'sanctuary where the fallen are remembered.' The names of the fallen Canadian soldiers and maple leaves will be inscribed on the walls of three quadrants, while the fourth wall facing the direction of Afghanistan is dedicated to fallen Afghan allies, according to Veterans Affairs Canada. 'In the centre, four bronze flak jackets stand draped on crosses—utilitarian yet poignant reminders of protection. This Monument creates a powerful opportunity to honour and reflect, and to seek balance and healing, for all Canadians." Ottawa monument The National Capital Commission unveiled final designs for the new National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan to be built in Ottawa. (National Capital Commission/release) The federal government says 158 Canadian Armed Forces members, a diplomat, four aid workers, a government contractor and a journalist died while in Afghanistan. NCC officials expect the monument to be completed in the spring/summer of 2028.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Canada's population growth stalled in the first quarter, StatCan says
A Canadian Armed Forces SkyHawks member comes into landing over Parliament Hill during Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa, on Monday, July 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says population growth stalled in the first quarter. The agency says the Canadian population rose by 20,107 people from Jan. 1 to April 1 to 41,548,787, the smallest increase since the third quarter of 2020 when it contracted by 1,232 people. The increase was so small that it amounted to effectively no growth, StatCan said. 'This was the second-slowest quarterly growth rate in Canada since comparable records began (first quarter of 1946), behind only the third quarter of 2020 and tied with the fourth quarter of 2014,' the agency said in its release Wednesday. It was the sixth consecutive quarter of slower population growth after a decision by the federal government in 2024 to lower the levels of both temporary and permanent immigration. However, immigration still accounted for all of the population growth in the quarter as there were 5,628 more deaths than births in Canada. Canada admitted 104,256 immigrants in the first quarter of 2025, while net emigration totalled 17,410. Meanwhile, the number of non-permanent residents dropped by 61,111. While the rate of population growth slowed during the first quarter, Statistics Canada said immigration levels remain high, though comparatively lower than in recent years. The agency said it was the smallest number of immigrants admitted during a first quarter in four years. 'However, prior to 2022, Canada had never welcomed more than 86,246 immigrants in a first quarter (which occurred in the first quarter of 2016),' the agency said. In October of last year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released information on its 2025-27 Immigration Levels Plan, which included targets for international students and temporary foreign workers for the first time. 'In recent years, Canada welcomed newcomers to support our economy and address labour market needs. As we move away from post-pandemic measures, there is a need to better align temporary and permanent resident immigration levels with community capacity,' the federal government said at the time. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2025. The Canadian Press
