John Baird: Canada's freedom agenda - Diplomat Magazine

Di spatches|FOREIGN AFFAIRSNATOLibyans celebrate after the death of Moammar Gadhafi. "Our Royal Canadian Air Force flew 10 percent of the total strike sorties againstGadhafi's forces," Mr. Baird says, "and our Royal Canadian Navy helped enforce the maritime blockade."40“You’ve got to work at that every day.You’ve got to focus on jobs and the economyevery single day.”If there is a pure-principle heart toCanada’s foreign policy, it is the government’s$5 million new “Office of ReligiousFreedom.” Mr. Baird met in October withsome 100 people from across the countryto discuss the new office, and will lobbycabinet and the Conservative caucus forthis foreign-affairs initiative.“It’s not freedom of religion,” he explains.“It’s freedom to practise yourreligion. That’s more expansive than justhaving a Bible in your own home.“I think it’s imperative that the officeoperates in the [foreign affairs] department.It needs to harness the resources ofour missions abroad, our people on theground. Whether it tracks with consularissues, whether it tracks with missionsaround the world, I think it’s really importantto be in the department.”He says he often raises the topic of freedomto practise one’s religion when he’sabroad.“I think it’s got to be more than a perfunctoryraising: You check a box ‘I raisedit.’ I think you hammer home how importantthe issue is to the government of Canada,to the people of Canada. Sometimesit’s more warmly received than others [butthat] doesn’t mean you shouldn’t raise it.”On the other hand, he doesn’t “hector”people: “You’ve got to try to be persuasive.At the same time, one person is notgoing to change a country. It takes consistent,coordinated effort.”He says Canada will join other countriesin this effort: Suzan Johnson Cook,U.S. ambassador for international religiousfreedom, “does a great job.” ItalianForeign Minister Franco Frattini “is reallypassionate about this. So we’re not aloneby any stretch.”Will he eventually try to have a religiousfreedom centre established rightat the UN? He smiles: “Let’s get the centreestablished [in Canada]. But we aresmoothing the way. The prime ministerprovided a lot of leadership during the G8Summit in Deauville, France in May 2011.There were two or three references to religiousfreedom.”As strongly as Mr. Baird feels on thisissue, he is clear that this is Prime MinisterHarper’s issue. Mr. Harper, besidesmentioning it in the Throne Speech, madeit “part of the election platform. It’s somethinghe believes strongly in,” says Mr.Baird, “and something our team and ourparty believe strongly in.”How close are his, Mr. Harper’s and theMr. Baird meets with U.S. Secretary of StateHillary Clinton in Washington last year.UN PHOTOcabinet’s views on foreign policy? Foreignpolicy is hammered out in cabinet and indiscussions, he says, and it’s not alwayssmooth agreement. “I think people wouldbe astounded. We have some really gooddebates, really good discussions aroundthe cabinet table. We don’t always agreeon everything.“It’s funny, obviously we’re a team,”he says. “The PM is leader of the team.On foreign policy, the PM and I do share alot — not everything — of the same views.Our views on Israel are remarkably similar.We have good debates, discussions.”And, he says, they’ve had lots of timeto work out their foreign affairs policy. “Itravelled to three G8s with him before Iwas foreign minister. Environment is aneconomic portfolio, a regulatory portfolioand, increasingly, a foreign affairs portfolio.“I’ve travelled extensively with him onforeign policy, on bilaterals with a widevariety of people. Also, as a member of Pand P [the cabinet committee on prioritiesand planning], you obviously considerevery issue, every file.”During cabinet talks, he says, “the PMwelcomes different perspectives. He’s avery good listener. At the same, he bringsvalues to the table — as we all do.”The debate can get very spirited, hesays, because everyone’s set of valuesand principles are complex. “Those whodisagree with [our views] say that they’renarrow ideologies and that they’re rigid.”He chuckles: “People on the left havevalues and principles. People on the righthave rigid ideologies.”His own “rigid ideology” is, he says: “Ibelieve in freedom.”WINTER 2012 | JAN-FEB-MAR