TVOntario’s newsmagazine program Studio 2 broadcast live from the Munk Centre last Wednesday with pundits and students debating Canada’s role in the world. About 75 students, many from U of T class POL108, were in the audience and asked questions of the panelists in a room strewn with lights, cables and cameras. The panelists included Stockwell Day, former leader of the Reform/Alliance party and current opposition critic on foreign affairs for the Conservative Party; Sheila Copps, former deputy prime minister; Andrew Cohen, a professor from Carleton and a bestselling author; and Linda McQuaig, author and columnist for the Toronto Star. The panel was moderated by Studio 2 host Steve Paikin.
Most of the discussion revolved around missile defence, and Canada-US relations.
“We were promised a debate on missile defence in Parliament, and that never happened,” said Day. “The government simply decided to adopt a policy.”
“I think staying out of missile defence is an expression of our disarmament values,” responded McQuaig.
Copps added, “We don’t want to be seen as a junior partner in this kind of American project…When I was in government, I didn’t want to join son of Star Wars.”
“Star Wars” was the nickname applied to former U.S. President Reagan’s “Strategic Defense Initiative” in the 1980s, which involved space-based missiles and was designed to shoot down any missile launched against the United States.
The exchanges were particularly barbed between Day and McQuaig.
“Would you admit that the Middle East situation has improved…over the past two years?” Day asked.
McQuaig answered, “No, I don’t think that’s the case.”
Day responded: “Philosophical differences are all well and good, but if you can’t face facts, then we’re not going to get anywhere.”
Later, the panelists addressed the gap between the Liberal government’s rhetoric and its actions.
“You can’t run around the world like the Prime Minister has done and commit the country to all these causes without having the capabilities,” said Cohen.
Yuraj Joshi, a first-year student who posed a question to the panel, told The Varsity that “It was unfortunate that there was no time for me to respond, no time for feedback. I felt that Day twisted my question on freedom and that seemed to happen to a lot of [other] people who asked questions.”
