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The mission of the CIC is to promote an understanding of international affairs and Canada’s role in a changing world by providing Canadians with a non-partisan, nationwide forum for informed discussion, analysis and debate. Accordingly, the cornerstone of the CIC’s work is our events program. The CIC national office and our branches hold more than 150 events per year in cities across the country. In particular, our branch events give members an opportunity to directly engage with global issues that often intersect with local concerns. The CIC also supports events outside of Canada, often in partnership with other global think tanks, that can introduce Canadian perspectives to global audiences. CIC events take on many different forms, from academic lectures and panel discussions to town hall meetings and pub nights. Please consult our events calendar for a listing of CIC-organized and sponsored events.

If you have an idea for a CIC event, please contact us at info@thecic.org.

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CIC Vancouver Island: The challenges ahead for France and Emmanuel Macron…

February 26 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST
Join former Ambassador to France Marc Lortie, to examine the current state of French politics, and the impact on Europe in particular.

“The challenges ahead for France and Emmanuel Macron as Europe grapples with a new security environment.”

France has long advocated for a pan European military. The question is whether or not Europe, perhaps with France’s leadership, is capable or willing to provide an effective deterrent or military response to Russian aggression. This question is complicated by the increasingly dysfunctional US role, the role of NATO and in the case of France, its messy politics. Based on his senior diplomatic role and his broad international experience, Marc is ideally positioned to distil a coherent interpretation of these compelling realities, if in fact one exists. I would suggest that these matters hold significance for Canada as we navigate American economic and perhaps military threats to our sovereignty.

About our Speaker

Marc Lortie has been diplomat, ambassador, Prime ministerial spokesperson, and trusted advisor to various prime ministers on federal-provincial issues, Latin American and European affairs. He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1971. He later served abroad in Tunisia (1973-75) and Washington (1979-83). He was seconded to the Prime Minister’s Office in 1985 where he was in charge of relations with the international media until 1987 when he was named Press Secretary. In 1989, he returned to the diplomatic service and served in Paris as Minister-Counsellor for Political Affairs and as Personal Representative of the Prime Minister for La Francophonie. He was named Canadian Ambassador to Chile in 1993 and served in that position until 1997 when he was nominated Fellow at the Centre for International Affairs at Harvard University. Marc returned to Ottawa in September 1998 when he was appointed Sherpa for the third Summit of the Americas and in 2001, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas. He was Ambassador of Canada to Spain from 2004 to 2007 and Ambassador of Canada in France from 2007 to 2012.

Cost: $30.00 each. A light lunch and refreshments will be served followed by our speaker. For special dietary or seating requests email vancouverisland@thecic.org

Details

Venue

  • Yates Memorial
  • 1000 Allsbrook Road
    Parksville, BC V9P2A9 Canada     + Google Map

Organizer

  • CIC Vancouver Island Branch