President’s Report 2007-2008

Delivered at the AGM in June 2008

Change was certainly the theme of the past year at the National Capital Branch. The Branch was already looking at doing some things differently following a strategic review completed the year before. The change from the CIIA to the CIC took up a considerable amount of our time,as there were many questions to be answered and much communication with our local members. The NCB ended up enthusiastically endorsing the initiative.

One of our objectives has been to establish the NCB as a more significant organisation within the Ottawa area international affairs community. Specifically, we want to build a network made up of the following target groups: academics, various entities within government, business, NGO’s, expert practitioners, international organisations, embassies, research institutes, and the news media. We have discussed the idea with various people, who encouraged us to do this. One of the practical things we plan to do is to set up a private registry of upcoming events to allow planners to avoid dates when there will be conflicts. We also want to help people within the community know what others are doing so that there can be communication amongst those withcommon interests. This will benefit the NCB by increasing the number and quality of our contacts and by ensuring that the community is fully aware of things that the CIC isdoing.

The National Capital Branch has formed a strategic partnership with the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. It will facilitate closer working relationships in areas of mutual interest including research projects, public conferences, seminars, private round table meetings, networking within the international affairs community and provide learning opportunities for NPSIA students. This three year agreement includes an office at Carleton plus financial support for some of our planned new initiatives.

The NCB was also able to get a grant from the International Development Research Centre to help with Branch capacity and programming, plus some research. Using this, plus the support from NPSIA, we are proposing a flagship program in 2008-2009 consisting of a series of seminars leading to a conference focused on the theme, The World in 2014. The program is intended to encourage a forward thinking approach to policy issues and to uncover trends in the modern world that will support the formulation of Canadian policy in the medium term. Called the CIC Ottawa Foreign Affairs Program, it will feature four seminars for less than 30 people by invitation only. We propose to hold each seminar in conjunction with a government department related to the specific seminar topic and featuring an expert brought to Ottawa for the occasion. If feasible, we will also hold a branch event so that the expert can speak to the whole branch, thus providing a direct benefit to members. The concluding conference next spring will be a high profile public event. We would like to have a published product for each seminar, say a Behind the Headlines, an International Insights, or an op-ed piece.

The Program will have multiple purposes, including supporting the CIC Vision “to advance research and dialogue on international issues.” It will help build a CIC-led network within the National Capital area foreign policy community. By means of research and debate the Program will develop new ideas for the benefit of policy makers. It can be expected, therefore, to have a positive influence on Canadian foreign policy. It will also enhance other activities that the National Capital Branch carries on for the benefit of itsmembers and of the public at large. Finally, it will build the profile and reputation of the National Capital Branch within the region and as part of the national organization.

The NCB did struggle a bit with our regular program this year as we were notable to get someone to head this area until October. Dinner speaker events featured Joe Clark, Wesley Wark, Michael Byers, Umet Uzer, and Lloyd Axworthy. Co-sponsored events included panels on Afghanistan, Canada-US Relations, UN Reform, and Richard Gwyn. Other events included a speech by the Polish Foreign Affairs Minister, a meeting with the Israeli Director General of Strategic Affairs, two book launches, and a seminar on the IAEA and Nuclear Non-Proliferation. We had one major conference on Resurgent Russia which will form the basis for an International Journal issue. We are planning a conference for early October looking at Pakistan and its security effects in the region and globally.

We have a goal to hold more dinner/lunch speaker events next year. We also want to hold some different types of events that will attract a more diverse audience, including greater numbers of younger people. We also wish to try to hold more events that are lower cost, and should be able to use our partnership with NPSIA to facilitate this.

Our Africa study group has a strong following and continues to meet regularly. It commissioned a paper on the prospects of a Canada / South Africa free trade agreement (concluding the prospect is unlikely). It also held a popular public event featuring G&M Africa correspondent Stephanie Nolen. We have also started a study group on Latin America designed to work with the CIC fellow located in Ottawa. Our study group on the Arctic has effectively ceased to exist as we were not able to find a new leader for it.

Although we plan to make greater use of paid support people in the next year, we will still rely strongly on volunteers. This will require a growing and enthusiastic membership. We also believe that the entire organisation can benefit if we continue to build communications between branches and with the National Office.

Craig Hunter
President,
National Capital Branch, CIC