Issues & Experts >
Issues & Experts Archive > Missile defence, Canada's image, marriage, Gung Haggis Fat Choy - Issues and Experts
Missile defence, Canada's image, marriage, Gung Haggis Fat Choy - Issues and Experts
Document Tools
January 25, 2005
Fueling the debate on missile defence…President George W. Bush's recent visit to Canada included a bit of arm twisting on the issue of missile defence, according to the Washington Post. It quotes an unnamed Canadian official as saying the president “threw up his hands” as Prime Minister Paul Martin explained during a private conversation that Canadian involvement in missile defence would be a tough sell. SFU political scientist Alexander Moens says, “Participating with the Americans in national missile defence is a low-cost and low risk choice for Canadian defence policy, but Ottawa's footdragging on this decision is turning into a growing bilateral sore point.” Moens, who has written a book on Bush, can look at how the apparent exchange and mounting debate on the issue will affect relations between the two countries.
Canada falls short on world stage…Canada has become an irrelevant force on the global stage, according to a major study of politicians, diplomats and thinkers from around the world. But if the country plays up a potential strength -- that of mobile peacekeeping -- it could save face. SFU military strategist Andre Gerolymatos, who has analysed Canada's role in recent world events, can look at the nation's international reputation. The study was sponsored by the Canadian Institute of International Affairs.
The debate over defining marriage… The Liberal government's proposed legislation to change the definition of marriage continues to stir debate and has led to protests by religious and other groups, and political reaction, such as the Tories' recent newspaper ads defending traditional marriage. The issue promises to only heat up as the legislation is expected to be tabled in the House of Commons next month. SFU sociologist Ann Travers can look at the reaction and the friction being fueled by the debate.
Where dragons meet kilts…Chinese New Year and Robbie Burns Day are being merged into a novel event at SFU called Gung Haggis Fat Choy. On Friday, Jan. 28, the university's first annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy Canadian Games will be held in Convocation Mall. The event will feature a dragoncart race and will celebrate multi-culturalism on campus through music, dance and other activities. Dragoncarts will carry up to seven team members and will be propelled using curling brooms. The race will be held from 12 -1 p.m. Geoff Vogt, intramural and student sports club coordinator, hopes to see the event, created by former student Todd Wong, become an annual celebration of cultural diversity on campus.
- Alexander Moens, 604.291.4361; alexander_moens@sfu.ca
Canada falls short on world stage…Canada has become an irrelevant force on the global stage, according to a major study of politicians, diplomats and thinkers from around the world. But if the country plays up a potential strength -- that of mobile peacekeeping -- it could save face. SFU military strategist Andre Gerolymatos, who has analysed Canada's role in recent world events, can look at the nation's international reputation. The study was sponsored by the Canadian Institute of International Affairs.
- Andre Gerolymatos, 604.291.5597; andre_gerolymatos@sfu.ca
The debate over defining marriage… The Liberal government's proposed legislation to change the definition of marriage continues to stir debate and has led to protests by religious and other groups, and political reaction, such as the Tories' recent newspaper ads defending traditional marriage. The issue promises to only heat up as the legislation is expected to be tabled in the House of Commons next month. SFU sociologist Ann Travers can look at the reaction and the friction being fueled by the debate.
- Ann Travers, 604.268.6630; atravers@sfu.ca
Where dragons meet kilts…Chinese New Year and Robbie Burns Day are being merged into a novel event at SFU called Gung Haggis Fat Choy. On Friday, Jan. 28, the university's first annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy Canadian Games will be held in Convocation Mall. The event will feature a dragoncart race and will celebrate multi-culturalism on campus through music, dance and other activities. Dragoncarts will carry up to seven team members and will be propelled using curling brooms. The race will be held from 12 -1 p.m. Geoff Vogt, intramural and student sports club coordinator, hopes to see the event, created by former student Todd Wong, become an annual celebration of cultural diversity on campus.
- Geoff Vogt, 604.291.4060; geoff_vogt@sfu.ca