Free Lecture: Canada's Foreign Policy

Canada's foreign policy will be the subject of a free public lecture on Wednesday, November 12 at 7 p.m. at the Coast Bastion Hotel. Free tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, at the main switchboard at Malaspina University-College (Nanaimo) or at the front desk of the Coast Bastion Hotel.

The deputy minister of foreign affairs, Donald Campbell, will set out Canada's foreign policy agenda as we approach the end of the decade. The lecture will launch a series of six public lectures under the heading: "Canada and the World - The President's Lecture Series on Issues in Canadian Foreign Policy."

The series is co-sponsored by Malaspina University College and the federal department of foreign affairs and international trade.

Until his appointment earlier this year as deputy minister, Campbell was Canada's ambassador to Japan. He has also served as Canada's ambassador to Korea.

Michael Berry, who is Malaspina University-College's diplomat-in-residence on loan from the department of foreign affairs and international trade in Ottawa, said, "Mr. Campbell will speak about the foreign policy challenges and opportunities facing Canada as we approach the millennium."

"Mr. Campbell's recent experience in Japan and Korea enables him to relate Canada's three major foreign policy themes: the promotion of jobs and prosperity for Canadians; the protection of Canadian security; and the projection of Canadian values and culture abroad, directly to the Asia Pacific region," said Berry.

Following the deputy foreign minister's presentation there will be a question and answer session and an open discussion.

The second lecture in the series entitled "The Asia Pacific Region in Canada's Future," will take place November 26 at 7 p.m. at Malaspina University-College campus. The speaker will be John Bell, ambassador for Canada's year of Asia Pacific. The "year" culminates with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, November 20-25 in Vancouver. Eighteen presidents and prime ministers will congregate for the Vancouver Summit and Bell will come to Nanaimo immediately afterwards.