With Trudeau in town, Canada’s Mideast policy looks to change its tune

Benjamin Shinewald, a former senior policy advisor to Canadian prime ministers, believes there’s a host of things Canada could do in the realm of Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding, starting with empowering the many diplomats who are “demoralized.”

Under the Harper government, they simply “weren’t allowed to engage in public diplomacy,” Shinewald has been quoted as saying. With Trudeau, that should not be an issue going by a letter he sent to ambassadors and high commissioners of Canada's foreign missions.

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press, he said his cabinet will be relying on their judgment and insight to advance foreign policy goals. "I expect that you will be engaged energetically in public diplomacy with other diplomats, host government officials, civil society, and the media — in all manner of ways — through direct contact, the media, and social media."