2021 in review

Throughout the year we have worked relentlessly to help lift the veil on Canadian foreign policy myths while strengthening the movement for a more just policy and international solidarity. We've produced a flurry of impactful events, actions and broken into corporate media spaces with the call for a foreign policy that puts peace, human rights and the environment first. 

In the summer CFPI instigated a public letter signed by Neil Young and numerous other Canadian and international celebrities opposing the Liberal's $19 billion planned purchase of 88 new fighter jets. It received significant corporate media attention and opened space for multiple CFPI opinion pieces in the Toronto Star, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen and elsewhere. We’ve also supported a series of rallies and online actions against buying warplanes expected to cost $77 billion over their life cycle.

In the lead-up to the NDP’s Spring convention we helped push back against the anti-Palestinian lobby’s bid to suppress debate through an action alert, webinar, op-eds, Twitter storm and press releases. The Canadian Press reported on CFPI’s efforts that contributed to members passing a resolution calling for a ban on settlement products and arm sales to Israel.

During the year CFPI hosted a number of webinars critical of Canada’s contribution to Palestinian dispossession. We also supported various initiatives to oppose illegal enlistment for the Israeli military and a formal complaint to the Canada Revenue Agency regarding the Canadian Zionist Cultural Association illegally subsidizing the IDF.

On the day the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force we hosted a talk with Noam Chomsky, published a commentary on CBC.ca and assisted a coalition of groups that printed ads in the Hill Times calling on Canada to sign the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty.

 An April webinar on “Why Canada should leave NATO” generated significant buzz, the ire of the National Post and spurred the Toronto Star to host a “big debate” on “Should Canada leave NATO?” CFPI fellow Tamara Lorincz contributing the op-ed arguing in the affirmative.

On the anniversary of Trudeau’s defeat in its bid for a seat on the UN Security Council CFPI hosted “International Solidarity Now: A gathering for a more just Canadian foreign policy.” More than 60 antiwar, mining justice and international solidarity organizations participated in the event designed to strengthen the collective efforts of those working to build a more just foreign policy.

As part of Black History Month, CFPI organized a slew of initiatives critical of Canadian imperialism in Haiti. We organized a screening/discussion of Haiti Betrayed, supported two rallies and instigated a public letter signed by numerous prominent individuals that was published in Le Devoir, Canadian Dimension and Common Dreams and reported on by numerous major Canadian as well as Haitian media outlets.

In the Summer, we helped launch the Canada China Focus, a new pan-Canadian, anti-racist project that aims to promote critical conversations on Canada-China relations.

During the Federal election CFPI organized an election survey and released a practical, cost-free, foreign policy platform. After Mélanie Joly was appointed new foreign minister, CFPI sent her several practical suggestions to advance a more just foreign policy.

CFPI organized or co-sponsored dozens more events and email campaigns. We also published articles in Rabble, Canadian Dimension, Spring, The Breach, Tyee, Common Dreams, Hamilton Spectator, Hill Times, etc. To raise awareness about Canadian foreign policy, we sent nearly 2000 Tweets from our Twitter account, which has over 3700 followers and during 2021 CFPI sent out 40 newsletters to a growing list of 13,000 individuals.

CFPI is totally reliant on small one-time donations and $10 and $20 monthly donors.

In this time of overlapping global crises, the demand for an anti-war government and a spirit of internationalism are more urgent than ever. We know people living in Canada want their country to be a force for human rights.

That is why we are fundraising to continue the work of CFPI. All funds will go towards action, analysis as well as for the platforms to do this.

Our goal is for Canada to end its harmful international policies and move in the direction of being a peaceful player on the global stage.

In order to keep doing this work, we need a community of donors and sustainers.

Thank you for your support.

Bianca Mugyenyi
Director, Canadian Foreign Policy Institute