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Point 3. Canada and the World

Many Canadians take pride in our international image. Canadians who trave: abroad often
speak favourably about how we are seen by people of other countries, and how Canada
compares with other countries they visit.

Increasingly, Canadians, and especially young people, think of themselves as citizens of ihe
world. Canadian defence forces play a role in international disputes; Canadian-
manufactured products must compete with those of other countries; Canadian
environmental issues must ba dealt with in co-operation with other countries; Canadian
standards of tiving are compared with others, as is our role in helping developing countries.

The group may wish to consider:

How the experiences of other countrias might bring a new perspective to
how we think about issues in Canada?

Canada’s international role, and how we should approach such things as
military ailiances, environmental issues, and aid to developing countries?

Point 4. What we Value, and How it can be Preserved

No matter how Canada Is governed In the future, there may be things which participants
regard as essential characteristics of the country in which thay.live, and which must be
preserved in any new arrangement. These could include such things as a “social safety
net" which protects citizens against financia) devastation because of unemployment, age or
iliness; acceptance of racial or linguistic minorities; a clean environment, a national identity
that is distinct from that of other countries; a certain type of role on the world stage; and so
on.

The discussion could invite participants to comment on what it is they value highly about the
country they live in, that should be preserved or strengthened in any new arrangement, and
explore whether participants are prepared to make the compromises that might be
necessary.

Conclusion
As you conclude, please do not forget to:

Ask the group what else they would like to tell the Forum.

Ask that individual reports on the discussion be completed.

Ensure that the group response form is completed, and returned as soan as
possible to the Citlzens’ Forum.

Encourage participants to form other groups for similar discussions.

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