The Guelph Lecture - On Being Canadian 2006

Louise Fréchette

Louise Fréchette

Each year The Guelph Lecture - On Being Canadian inspires a community conversation on what it means to be Canadian and what role our country could and should play in a changing world. Last year's Federal Election was distinguished by a complete lack of discussion on Canada's foreign policy - a situation that still leaves many shaking their heads with wonder that a topic of such importance to our country could have been neglected. There is, perhaps, no country as connected to the larger world as is Canada. Why didn't we care enough to force a discussion of this important topic?

This year we are extremely fortunate to have Louise Fréchette as our keynote speaker. Madame Fréchette served as the first Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, a position she held for eight years at the culmination of a distinguished career as Canadian diplomat and public servant. She currently serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo. She has been named as one of the hundred most influential women in the world by Forbes Magazine.

Fréchette observes that there are moments in her own career that correspond to attempts by Canada to situate itself in the world. She believes that Canada is one of the few countries whose foreign policy priority is not determined by its Region. All other Regions are comprised of many countries of roughly the same size. So while Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East were regarding their Region as their priority, Canada (whose Region is dominated by the U.S.) was attempting a "third option," connecting itself to Europe. During this time Fréchette served as Second Secretary at the Canadian Embassy in Athens and held various posts in external and UN affairs for over a decade.

When this approach to foreign policy didn't show results, Canada tried to build a hemispherical approach to foreign policy. At 39, Fréchette became Ambassador to Argentina, with accreditation to Uruguay and Paraguay.

In October 1988, Ms. Fréchette was named Assistant Deputy Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean in the Department of International Affairs and International Trade. She directed a review of Canada's relations with the region, which led to Canada's entry into the Organization of American States (OAS).

She cites NAFTA as a major break with previous attempts to keep our distance from the US on trade matters.

The Cold War was an easy time for defining oneself, but as it ended, NATO became less and less central and the Commonwealth was declining in importance as well. Africa then became a focus of attention.

In January 1991 Fréchette became Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic Policy and Trade Competitiveness. After a post as Canadian Ambassador to the UN (1992-1994), Fréchette became Canada's Deputy Minister of National Defence, until her appointment as Deputy Secretary General of the UN.

Now a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, one of Canada's leading research centres focused on international relations and policy, Fréchette will chair a research project on the political and economic issues arising from increased nuclear energy use. The project is expected to research and make recommendations on a wide range of issues, from the economic and environmental significance of nuclear energy in an increasingly energy-dependent world to enhanced dangers arising from the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Brian Stewart

Madame Fréchette will be in conversation with Brian Stewart, long known as one of Canada's most experienced foreign correspondents and one of the most respected foreign affairs analysts. He is Senior Correspondent for CBC's The National and Host of Our World. For more than two decades he has provided Canadians with a window on the world.

Also on the Bill

This year's musical component features Ndidi Onukwulu with Madagascar Slim and their band. Not only do they have incredible music, they have amazing stories of lives dedicated to music. In March 2006, Onukwulu released No I Never, an album with many influences but heavily steeped in the themes and moods of traditional blues songs. Born in British Columbia, Onukwulu left home at an early age to pursue her musical yearnings. "There's a lot of residual pain and anger from growing up as an ethnic person in small-town Canada" she says. Madagascar Slim is a musical prodigy in his own right. Born in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, he was sent to Canada by his parents to get an education. He says his personal motive was to learn English so he could play the music he had heard and come to love as a child. Now he's a two-time Juno award winner - and a graduate of Seneca College!

We are also very excited by this year's literary portion of the show. To celebrate the University of Guelph-sponsored, community-wide event - Shakespeare: Made in Canada - we will be treated to a most inspiring performance by a well-known Shakespearean actor. Our star actor will read selected passages from the Bard.

Diane Nalini, of Belgian and Goan descent, a Rhodes scholar and U. of G. Physics professor, will sing her original compositions of the same passages, from her newest CD, Songs of Sweet Fire.

The Guelph Lecture - On Being Canadian is an offering of the Eramosa Institute, a not-for-profit, Charitable Organization (86498 9207 RR0001) that exists to promote and foster public dialogue on, and greater understanding of, ideas and issues of concern to Canadians.