Abstract
AbstractDespite its modest position on the international stage, Canada has been able to leverage significant influence in matters of global health. The country’s global health leadership draws on its strengths as a staunch participant in multilateral activities, a large funder of global health initiatives, a defender of a rule-based international order, and an active promoter of human rights, health equity, and global citizenship. These sources of strength, though, are being undermined by ongoing challenges to and recent deviations from the country’s traditional commitment to global health. Canada recently shifted its funding for global health initiatives away from its multilateral partnerships, recent actions have violated international law, findings from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reveal how Canada’s Indigenous peoples still face many health disparities at home, and some Canadian businesses continue to operate in foreign markets with questionable human rights practices. While there are many reasons to celebrate Canadian contributions to global health, there is also much that can be improved. If Canada wants to harness its potential as a global health leader, it should focus on consolidating the sources of its strength, which will give it greater influence in matters of global health.
Highlights
Canada’s foreign policy in matters of global health is inseparable from its domestic political project: the country’s emphasis on multiculturalism at home is reflected in its emphasis on compromise and cooperation abroad.The authors would like to thank Rodney Loeppky for his comments on an earlier version of this chapter
Canada is more connected to the rest of the world than ever before. This connection has blurred the distinction between Canadian health and global health
Canadian health is connected to global factors in ways that prevent Canada from addressing the determinants of its population’s health alone; Canada needs to maintain and ideally deepen its participation in the global community to help improve the health of its own population
Summary
Canada’s foreign policy in matters of global health is inseparable from its domestic political project: the country’s emphasis on multiculturalism at home is reflected in its emphasis on compromise and cooperation abroad. The current challenges posed by decolonization efforts at home, some concerning foreign resource extraction and trade practices, and previous violations of international health law continue to tarnish Canada’s reputation in matters of global health and impede its ability to emerge as a global leader Taken together, these circumstances suggest that to harness the potential of the current opportunities for Canadian foreign policy in global health, the country should return to drawing upon its strengths in both domestic and international spheres to deepen its commitment to multilateral global health activities. The transnational and immediate threat posed by several global health challenges highlights the continued relevance of multilateralism, while highlighting the need to do it better
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