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Canada needs to become more secure by becoming more self-sufficient. In a new series, the Post examines how a country made wealthy by globalization and trade can also protect itself against pandemics and other unknown future shocks to ensure some of our immense resources and economic power are reserved for our own security.

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tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Derek H. Burney: Greater self-reliance will be an absolute necessity post-COVID-19 Back to video

One powerful lesson from the pandemic is that we are moving to an era of greater self-reliance — a post-globalization age where nations will vie more to advance their own interests and rely less on global institutions to provide stability and prosperity. It is time to examine closely ways to establish a comprehensive and coherent national strategy dedicated to fulfilling our own needs and pursuing our own interests.

Many of our international institutions suffer from advanced sclerosis, giving lip service to their noble intent but failing conspicuously to deliver because of internal gridlock or due to processes devoid of vision. We should recalibrate our financial commitments to many of these in accordance with the degree to which they serve Canadian interests.

Many of our international institutions suffer from advanced sclerosis

On foreign policy more generally, the bedrock for Canada has customarily been a privileged relationship with the U.S. Donald Trump has little regard for the value of allies or alliances and little interest in global leadership. His involvement with global institutions hinges directly on whether they serve or obstruct American interests. Absent principled U.S. global leadership, Canada and other erstwhile allies will be in a “dog-eat-dog,” fiercely competitive global environment. We do not have the luxury of choosing greater self-reliance. It is rapidly becoming an absolute necessity.