Mr. Peter Van Praagh, President, Halifax International Security Forum
Baroness Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary General, Executive Director, Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, United Nations
The Hon. Scott Brison, President, Treasury Board, Canada
The Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, Canada
The 2017 Halifax International Security Forum kicked off with remarks by Peter Van Praagh, President of the Halifax International Security Forum.
Remarks on behalf the United Nations were delivered by Baroness Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary General, Executive Director, Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, United Nations.
The Hon. Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, introduced the Hon. Harjit Sajjan, Canadian Minister of Defence, who welcomed participants to Halifax and to the 2017 Forum.
In the weekend’s first Halifax Chat, discussion focused on Canada’s recommitment to peacekeeping with the United Nations and NATO’s role in the face of changes in America and the European Union. On the heels of the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in Vancouver, B.C., Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan emphasized the country’s military leadership in Latvia and Ukraine and that bolstering Canada’s peacekeeping abilities reflects the will of the people. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the European Union’s new Permanent Structured Cooperation as an opportunity for a more secure and well-defended European continent. Both noted that despite rhetoric about NATO in the United States, America continues to be a leader and active participant in NATO. There was overwhelming consensus that women must be involved in all aspects of military operations, and that there must be more women in uniform if lasting peace and security is to be achieved.
World War II. Korea. 9/11. These have been key moments when western states came together in defence of freedom, democracy and shared values. Yet today, the people’s faith in democracy and international institutions is under threat. Neo-Nazis are also emboldened. The political divide is no longer just left versus right, but increasingly it is between those who value liberalism and those who do not. Panelists discussed the future of the principles for which men and women a generation ago fought and died – especially in light of a recent rise of populism, individualism and radical protests in a number of democratic countries. Panelists noted that during this democratic stress test – the greatest that this generation has faced – domestic problems must be solved while valuing the post WWII international order. Suggestions ranged from classes in civics to fostering grassroots solutions to encouraging a greater diversity of views in foreign affairs. All agreed that the way forward is still uncertain, but the work begins through cooperation.
LOCATION: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
LOCATION: Westin Lobby
Presentation of the Builder Award to NATO
