15THE HILL TIMES | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2017

OpinionTime to restore
funding to Canadianstudies abroad
The world needs more
Canada, but a programthat promotes it in thehalls of global academia
was slashed in 2012.
Without it, Canada’s voice
abroad is diminished.

Susan Hodgett
Foreign AffairsCanada has for many years been at, or
near the top, of the United Nations’ Human Development Index. In 2015 it scoredninth out of 188 countries reviewed. Every
year the publicity about Canada’s quality-oflife achievements comes and goes without
much remark in the press inside Canada orabroad. Meanwhile, Canada, as a mediumrange power, gets little coverage internationally, especially outside of North America.
But we are in a new epoch: a worldtransformed by the 2008 economic crash,political shocks provided by Brexit, theelection of United States President Donald
Trump, and the rise of what academics
have dubbed anti-politics.
Politicians, parties, and political institutions around the world are being castigated
for their inattention to rising inequality
and how people live now. At the same,time, Canada has a new prime minister, a
new government, and a new minister offoreign affairs.
So what, some might say? As an observer of Canada for over 20 years, I say “so farso good.”The messages emanating fromthe new Trudeau government have brought
positivity and hope, and not just to Canada.
Sitting in Belfast while reading Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau’s mandate letter toChrystia Freeland, I was transfixed. Promising real change to Canadians, Trudeau
seeks to grow the middle classes, makegovernment effective, and have a positive
impact on the lives of Canadians—all laudable. He seeks to “restore constructive Canadian leadership...and promote Canada’s
interests and values.”
Here in Northern Ireland, in the run-up
to yet another assembly election, and following the collapse of our local devolved
administration because of a paucity oftransparency, openness, and most of theabove, it struck me that we need more
Canada.
In his public message to the new foreign
minister, Trudeau asked Minister Freeland
to facilitate the movement of people andgoods, expand Canadian diplomacy, andseek leadership opportunities for Canada
on global issues and international institutions. Furthermore, he wants her to revitalize Canada’s public diplomacy, engage
with partners in Canada and abroad, as
well as to increase Canada’s educationaland cultural interaction with the world.

You might ask why a professor basedin Northern Ireland would know, or indeedcare, about Canadian values and government policy platforms.
Straight answer: because nearly 20 years
ago I discovered a tiny program that thethen Department of Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade ran for promoting study
and research of Canada. Since then, I havediscussed Canada, its quality of life, and policies in China, the United States, Russia, andmany other parts of the world. I have taught
thousands of students at U.K. and Irish
universities about Canada and its policies; I
have written many papers and published internationally, on Canada, its diversity, and its
tolerance. And, I have helped policy-makers
beyond Canada benefit from knowledge of
its laws, values, and norms, as well as run
seminars and conferences to discuss Canadian issues of the day.
I am just one of many professors worldwide who have done the same. We are Canada’s international Canadianists, interested inlearning and talking about the country to ourpublics. We are influential informants abroadconnected to our presses, parliaments,policy-makers, and peoples.
As the federal government sets its next
budget, lays out its priorities, and deals withthe challenges forthcoming in an uncertain
world, Canada needs as many partners as
it can find. But, more importantly, the world
needs to hear once again, and louder, Canada’s reason, diversity, and tolerance. Mr.
Trudeau’s liberal values should be required
listening by the world at this point in history.
But Canada is missing a vital trick.
Around the world, thousands of professors(working with even more university students) learn about Canada and its cultures. Itis what we do in our everyday jobs. But ournumbers are shrinking fast, as since 2012,
Canada’s government has chosen not to support a low-cost program pump-priming ourwork with small research or teaching funds.
And with the shrinking of Canada’s investment in Canadianist professors and students
abroad, so shrinks Canada’s exposure to
those outside its embassies.

Around the world, every day, thousands of professors (working with even more university students)
learn about Canada and its cultures. But their numbers are shrinking fast, argues Susan Hodgett.
The Hill Times file photograph

Right now, we need more Canada in Northern Ireland and the world: more diversity,
pluralism, tolerance, and good government.
When Canada’s new government was elected,
I heard it said with some relief that the country
was back. The question is, does anyone outsideof Canada know or understand?
Susan Hodgett is president of the Inter-national Council for Canadian Studies, a notfor-profit group with members and associate
members in 39 countries, dedicated to thepromotion and support of research, education, and publication in all fields of CanadianStudies around the world. She is based in
Northern Ireland at Ulster University.
The Hill Times

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Canada is losing, month bymonth, its academic allies
beyond its borders.
Canada is struggling to market its
education abroad. Canadian universities
are frustrated by their poor performancein attracting students from the U.S. andbeyond. Canada is losing, month by month,
its academic allies beyond its borders,both professors and students. And, sadly,
this is at a time when other countries areinvesting serious money in their academic
exchanges with others.
So, while people overseas might admire
Canada’s good life and its government, theyknow next to nothing about the country.
Recently, a British colleague was discussing with me the forthcoming challenges ofBrexit. We agonized about the problems tobe addressed when the United Kingdom
leaves the European Union, and Irelandstays. We speculated about the serious economic implications for Northern Ireland.
In closing our conversation concerning
the perilous state of higher education here
he asked quizzically, “Why don’t you move
to Canada for the good life?”
I hesitated, and then replied, “because
we need more Canada—here.”

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