When we think of Canada, we think of a nation that advocates rights, peace, and democracy. If this is truly who we are as a nation, the official response of the Government of Canada towards current affairs in Egypt is obvious and should reflect our Canadian values. Given the loss of life, the loss of individual freedoms, and the use of force currently being employed in Egypt by the Egyptian government, Canada should be helping the Egyptian people by any means possible.
As a democratic nation, our values consist of rights, freedom and equality for all. If this is what we truly believe is right, then these values are as important to us as ever when dealing with international diplomacy. We uphold these values for our people, and as a part in a global community, we should ensure that these values are upheld in the rest of world as well.
If we wish to continue upholding these values, it is only right, that they should guide Canadian foreign policy actions for the situation in Egypt. We believe that “individual persons have basic rights to free speech, fair treatment in terms of judicial process, and political equality enshrined in a political constitution”. (Human Rights International Relations p61) Under the Mubarak regime, the Egyptians are not receiving these basic rights. This is why they are rebelling against this regime, and why we, in the defence of democratic principles, must help them. “Kant’s pamphlet, ‘Perpetual Peace’ (Kant, 1991) builds a theory of international liberalism in which all individuals have equal moral worth, and in which an abuse of rights in one part of the world is ‘felt everywhere’.” (Human Rights International Relations p61) This is the case right now in Egypt, and as a democratic nation, it is our duty to stand up for the people of other nations when their rights are being taken away.
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