Bob Rae visits Queen's Law to discuss Canada's place in the world

Photo by Greg Black

Bob Rae, the 2010 Distinguished Visitor of Queen's Law's International Speakers Series, delivers a lecture on "Canada and the world" in Macdonald Hall on March 11.

Bob Rae, LLD ‘06, MP, Opposition Foreign Affairs critic and former premier of Ontario, visited Queen's Law on March 11, 2010. Appearing as the 2010 Distinguished Visitor of the International Speakers Series, Rae spoke to a packed room of students and faculty members from Law and other faculties about his vision for Canadian foreign policy.

A former Rhodes scholar, Rae launched into a wide-ranging discussion of Canadian foreign policy organized around "a very simple proposition: The world is in us, and we are in the world."
Rae spoke of the potential international applications of Canadian federalism, citing his experience as chair of the Forum of Federations, where he worked with former Queen's principal and professor emeritus of political studies Ron Watts, and efforts to discuss a federal solution to the problems of Sri Lanka. Rae noted that where some countries have embraced the Canadian approach, others like Sri Lanka have said, "no thanks." He was emphatic that both responses are acceptable: "Democracy...cannot be exported like refrigerators and cars."

For Rae, it all connects to the importance of the rule of law. He closed his speech by saying, "as lawyers, and as law students, it's a constant challenge for us to be aware of the importance and the value of the rule of law and its implications for how to govern ourselves as a people."

Photo by Greg Black

Bob Rae responds to a question from the audience during his lecture.

Rae followed his talk with a lengthy question and answer session. Questions ranged from substantive policy issues relating to mining and the environment to more general questions about voter apathy and isolationism. Rae championed ordinary Canadians, suggesting that isolationism was not a predominant sentiment among Canadians and that "it's not necessarily a bad thing if people say, 'I've gotten on with my life, I'm doing my own thing, I don't want politics every day in my face.'"

Following the lecture, audience members had the opportunity to meet Rae in the Student Lounge.

"It's a really valuable experience for law students to be able to hear the perspective of someone who can speak to a lot of different issues outside of the law," said Laura Redekop, Law ‘11, "and how the law will relate to Canada in a broader way."

Also at the event was Sean Conway, Principal Daniel Woolf's special advisor on external relations and a former adversary of Rae's in the Ontario legislature. "He has not lost his touch" Conway said. "He's very engaged and engaging."

The International Speakers Series, organized by Professor Darryl Robinson, was established in 2008 as part of a Queen's Law initiative to increase students' exposure to international issues and opportunities.

"It's important to give students the opportunity to hear someone who has a wealth of experience in international affairs from a practical point of view," said Associate Dean Stanley Corbett. "Mr. Rae certainly brings that perspective."

Photo by Greg Black

Bob Rae chats with students at a reception held in the Student Lounge after the lecture.