Message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Canadians’ security and prosperity go hand-in-hand. Today, we are connected to – and affected by – everything that happens internationally, and we want to be part of solutions to complex global challenges. Canadians rightly expect our government and country to play a positive and constructive role.

As the Prime Minister has outlined, our objective is to restore constructive Canadian leadership in the world and to promote Canada’s interests and values; serve our security and economic interests; and contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous world.

In order to do so, we must build a closer link between our foreign, defence, humanitarian, development, and trade policies. Combined with our upcoming International Assistance Policy and progressive, feminist foreign policy, this defence policy will help accomplish our shared objectives.

Canadians have always been ready to share the burden and responsibility of making the world a safer place. We have a long history of working collaboratively with partners to prevent and respond to conflicts and crises abroad, including our support for peace and stabilization operations. The same applies to policy and advocacy that strengthen global norms on peace and security. Our commitment to collective security is reflected in our long-standing support for our core alliances, NATO and NORAD, and for the United Nations.

A highly capable, flexible military with the ability to operate closely with allies and partners is an invaluable instrument of Canada’s foreign policy. This is why the Government’s new defence policy will form an essential part of Canada’s future international engagement. It will reinforce our relations with key partners and allies. And it will support our joint efforts to address global security threats, combat terrorism, and defend our continent.

This new policy has benefitted from extensive consultation with Canadians and our international partners. It provides a map and means to advance the Government’s ambitious agenda. Our focus is to ensure that our foreign, defence, development, and trade policies reinforce one another and deliver results for the people we serve: Canadians.

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, PC, MP