Lots in the Press of late concerning Canada’s and the UK’s agreement to share Embassy Buildings in some countries as a cost saving initiative.
I like the idea of saving costs but I do not like the appearance of what is happening here; sort of in the vane of Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.
So too, Canada’s diplomatic independence must not only happen, it must be seen to happen. Unless of course that no longer becomes our objective.
Ergo, I am not too keen about our Government’s recent decision.
It also provides Quebec’s Separatists with a stick to hit Federalist over the head with; i.e. Canada is still tied to England’s apron strings. Not true, but quite convenient for the PQ to use against us.
Not that I care a twiddle about the PQ – I am just stating the fact that this will be used by them in their ongoing attempt to undermine Confederation.
That said, I am not opposed to co-located embassies, indeed and as you know, I would like to see a Coalition of Democratic States established (CDS) and would readily approve of CDS co-locating in Embassies across the world. It would show unification of spirit and would send a strong message to those who may wish to harm us. And by the bye it would also save money.
The trouble with sharing a building with another nation (England) or a handful of other nations – e.g. the Commonwealth, for the sole purpose of saving money is that it lends itself to the suggestion that our dependence has been compromised without the benefit of obtaining a truly strategic alliance.
So through the CDS approach, we would be declaring, in fact, to all and sundry that our independence has been compromised and that we, as Canadians, are fully supportive of that given its benefits to all fair minded peoples.
As I see it…
‘K.D. Galagher’
