Every political party with nation-wide aspirations has had to consider foreign policy. Some parties have created foreign policy task forces or committees to consider the issues and formulate a strategy. To find any documents thay may have produced, besides announcements made to the media during election campaigns, speeches and remarks in Parliament, search the party web sites for the most recent information and library catalogues for current and earlier versions. The following are some examples of political party publications on foreign policy issues:

Foreign Policy Handbook. By the Liberal Caucus Committee on External Affairs and National Defence under the direction of Lloyd Axworthy & Christine Stewart. Ottawa: House of Commons, Office of the Leader of the Oppostition, 1993. 15,16 p. (in English and French)
The Liberal Party's Trade Policy: Third Report of the National Liberal Caucus Task Force on Trade. Ottawa: Liberal Party of Canada, 1988. 15 p.
The Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI): Interim Report of the Liberal Task Force on Peace, Security and World Disarmament. Ottawa: Liberal Party of Canada, 1985. 13,13 p.
Canada and the Millennium: A New Look at Foreign Policy: Statement from the Official Opposition. By Bob Mills. Reform Party of Canada, 1999. 83 p.
New Foreign Policy: For Peace and Independence. Communist Party of Canada, 1975. 3 p.
Canadian Sovereignty, Security and Defence: A New Democratic Response to the Defence White Paper. By Derek Blackburn. Ottawa: NDP, 1987. 26 p.
Peace, Security and Justice: Report of the International Affairs Committee: An NDP Discussion Paper. New Democratic Party of Canada, 1981. 29 p.
Progressive Conservative Program for International Trade. Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, 1974.
Quebec, Francophone Nation of the Americas, Embracing the World. Montreal: Bloc québécois, 2003 62 p. (In French, English and Spanish)

Government Publications: (Royal Commission reports, task force reports, government department and agency reports, policy papers, Parliamentary documents, law and court reports)

Royal Commissions, Commissions of Inquiry, and Related Reports:

Commission of Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Maher Arar. Dennis O'Connor, Commissioner.
Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar. 3 vols: Factual Background - Vol. I and Vol. II, and Analysis and Recommendations, 2006.
A New Review Mechanism for the RCMP's National Security Activities. 2006, 630 p.
All reports, hearing transcripts, background material, etc. available on the Commission's website are archived in the Library and Archives Canada Electronic Collection

Connecting with the World: Priorities for Canadian Internationalism in the 21st Century: Report. International Development Research and Policy Task Force. Ottawa: The Task Force, 1996. 40,35 p.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Publications

Provincial / Territorial Equivalents. Quebec has a Ministry of International Relations, and all provinces and territories have a Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs which deals with some international relations, mostly trade related. See International Relations - Finding & Evaluating - Government Information for links to their web sites. Some sample publications:
Quebec:
Énoncé de politique de relations internationales : Le Québec dans le monde, le défi de l'interdépendence. Quebec: Ministère des relations internationales, 1985, 204 p.
Guide de la pratique des relations internationales du Québec. By François LeDuc and Marcel Cloutier. Quebec: Ministère des relations internationales, 2000, 364 p.
Playing a Role in Building a More Secure World, or, The Security Challenge Facing Quebec. By Anne Bernard. Quebec: Ministère des relations internationales, 2006, 32 p.
Quebec and Interdependence: Global Horizons: Elements of an International Affairs Policy. Quebec: Ministère des affaires internationales, 1991, 212 p.
Quebec's International Policy: Working in Concert. Quebec: Ministère des relations internationales, 2006. 113 p.
Other:
Alberta's Special Relations in Asia - A Review. Edmonton: Alberta Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs, International Division, 1987, 37 p.
Prospering in a Global Community: New Brunswick's International Strategy. Fredericton: Government of New Brunswick, 2003. 26 p.

Canadian Foreign Policy, 1945-2000: Major Documents and Speeches. Ed. by Arthur Blanchette. Ottawa: Golden Dog Press, 2000. 262 p. A key compilation of reprinted statements and speeches highlighting Canada's policies in international relations, organized by topic: (United Nations, security and peace, relations with the US, Far East, international economic and trade policy, north-south issues, environment, immigration/refugees, and the provinces and foreign policy) with each section introduced and put in context. Note: This volume complements the 4-volume "Selected Speeeches and Documents" series launched by the Carleton University Press:
Canadian Foreign Policy, 1945-1954: Selected Speeches and Documents. Ed. by R. A Mackay. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1971. 407 p.
Canadian Foreign Policy, 1955-1965: Selected Speeches and Documents. Ed. by Arthur Blanchette. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1977. 424 p.
Canadian Foreign Policy, 1966-1976: Selected Speeches and Documents. Ed. by Arthur Blanchette. Agincourt, ON: Gage, 1980. 366 p.
Canadian Foreign Policy, 1955-1965: Selected Speeches and Documents. Ed. by Arthur Blanchette. Ottawa: Carleton Univ. Press, 1994. 168 p.

Documents on Canadian External Relations. Print: Vol. 1, 1908-1918 - . (Available in depository libraries.) Online: Vol. 12, 1946 - . http://www.international.gc.ca/department/history/dcer/browse-en.asp Another key primary source for researchers, this series compiles the full text of important departmental publications on Canada's major foreign policy decisions and actions. The online volumes covering 1946 on can be searched by keyword or browsed.

Selected Individual Policy Documents:

Foreign Policy

Committee Reports: Standing parliamentary committees exist on important topics of ongoing concern such as the environment, aboriginal affairs, etc. They are independent of the related ministries and include members of both the governing party and others. Their studies and reports can be very useful research material.

There have been several standing committees in both the House of Commons and Senate concerned with international relations-related issues. Committee web sites on the Parliamentary Internet site include information on the committee, its members, meeting schedule, contact information, its studies, reports, news releases, a list of the witnesses who appeared before the committee, and the transcripts of the meetings, called "Evidence". You can also sign up for email notification of any new committee information to appear on the site.

Key International Relations-related House of Commons and Senate Standing Committees and Sample Reports:

House of Commons:

Foreign Affairs & International Development. http://www.parl.gc.ca/FAAE Previous names:
1994: Stdg Cttee on Foreign Affairs & International Trade
1986: Stdg Cttee on External Affairs & International Trade
1968: Stdg Cttee on External Affairs & National Defence
1945: Stdg Cttee on External Affairs
For more details see Committee History.
For Whose Benefit?: Canada's Official Development Assistance Policies and Programs. William Wineguard, Chair, 1987. 167,185 p.
Partners with the United States: Advancing Canada's Relations with the United States and Mexico. Bernard Patry, Chair, 2002. 340 p.

International Trade. http://www.parl.gc.ca/CIIT Formed in 2006. Previously international trade issues considered by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs & International Affairs.
Ten Steps to a Better Trade Policy. Leon Benoit, Chair, 2007. 55, 59 p.

National Defence. http://www.parl.gc.ca/NDDN Established in 1986. Before then defence policy was considered by the Standing Cttee on External Affairs & National Defence. For more details see Committee History.
Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. Rick Casson, Chair, 2007. 160, 173 p.

Public Safety & National Security. http://www.parl.gc.ca/SECU Formed in 2006 from previous sub-committees.

Senate:

Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Previous names: 1938: Committee on External Relations, then Committee on International Relations, then Committee on Foreign Affairs until 2005.
Overcoming 40 Years of Failure: A New Road Map for Sub-Saharan Africa. Hugh Segal and Peter Stollery, Chairs, 2007. 189 p.
The New NATO and the Evolution of Peacekeeping: Implications for Canada. Peter Stollery and Raynell Andreychuk, Chairs, 2000. 97, 90 p.
Canada-United States Relations. George Van Roggen, Chair, 3 vols (vol. 1: The Institutional Framework for the Relationship, 1975, 89 p., vol. 2: Canada's Trade Relations with the United States, 1978, 158 p., vol. 3: Canada's Trade Relations with the United States, 1982, 155 p.)

National Security and Defence. Formed in 1992 from previous special and subcommittees.
Canadian Troops in Afghanistan: Taking a Hard Look at a Hard Mission: An Interim Report. Colin Kenny and Michael Meighen, Chairs, 2007. 45 p.
Canada's Coastlines: The Largest Under-defended Borders in the World. Colin Kenny, Chair, 2003. 2 vols.
Managing Turmoil: The Need to Upgrade Canadian Foreign Aid and Military Strength to Deal with Massive Change: An Interim Report. Colin Kenny and Michael Meighen, Chairs, 2006. 314 p.

Human Rights. Deals with human rights generally, but issues often have international aspects.
Enhancing Canada's Role in the OAS: Canadian Adherence to the American Convention on Human Rights. Shirley Maheu, Chair, 2003. 82, 83 p.
Promises to Keep: Implementing Canada's Human Rights Obligations. Raynell Andreychuk and Sheila Finestone, Chairs, 2001. 59, 63 p.

Subcommittees, Joint House and Senate, and Special Committees can be created at any time to examine specific issues. For example:

Subcommittee on the Review of the Antiterrorism Act, H. of C. Stdg Cttee on Public Safety & National Security.
Rights, Limits, Security: A Comprehensive Review of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Related issues. Gord Brown, Chair. 2007. 137 p.

Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment, H. of C. Stdg Cttee on Foreign Affairs & International Trade.
Canada and the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. Bob Speller, Chair, 1997. 80 p.

Special Committee of the Senate on National Defence.
Canada's Land Forces. Henry Hicks, Chair, 1989. 141 p.

Special House of Commons Committee on the Review of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act and the Security Offences Act.
In Flux but not in Crisis. Blaine Thacker, Chair, 1990. 229, 234 p.

Special Joint Committee on Canada's International Relations.
Independence and Internationalism. Jean-Maurice Simard and Tom Hockin, Chairs, 1986. 196, 210 p.

Special Joint Committee on Reviewing Canadian Foreign Policy.
Canada's Foreign Policy: Principles and Priorities for the Future: The Position Papers. Alan MacEachen and Jean Gauthier, Chairs, 1994. 118 p.

Special Joint Committee on Canada's Defence Policy.
Security in a Changing World. Pierre de Bané and William Rompkey, Chairs, 1994. 2 vols.

Check the House of Commons and Senate Journals and Debates Indexes for the time period relevant to your research to see if any other parliamentary committees examined international relations issues at that time. The proceedings of committee meetings may also provide valuable research material.

See the main Part 5: Primary Sources - Government Publications for tips on finding more committee reports.

NOTE: Advocacy groups, individuals and government bodies can submit briefs to committees informing them of the impact of proposed legislation or commenting on the issue under study. These may be found as part of the committee Evidence, on the group's or committee's web site, or in library catalogues by authoring body.

Other Parliamentary Documents: Use the main Part 4: Finding & Evaluating Government Information and Part 5: Selected Primary Sources to see how to search the Debates, Parliamentary Journals, etc. for bills, questions asked in Parliament, etc.

Current major Acts and Regulations dealing with Canada's international relations, defence, national security, foreign aid, etc. are available at the Justice Canada site at http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en browsable by title or searchable by keyword. (See the main Part 5: Primary Sources - What was Written - Government - Law & Legislation for how to find earlier versions.) Collections of current, related laws and legislation may also be available at the government sites most directly involved. For example:

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Bartleman, James. On Six Continents: A Life in Canada's Foreign Service, 1966-2002. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2004. 253 p.

Papers of Arthur Andrew. Library and Archives Canada. (Contains correspondence, subject files, writings, etc. from his career in the army and foreign service. Period covered: 1943-1982.)

At Loggerheads: The Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Dispute. CBC Archives. 8 TV clips, 4 radio clips.

Canadian Forces Image Gallery. National Defence. http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca

See the main Part 5: Primary Sources - Recorded Images for tips on finding more photos, political cartoons, films, etc.

Each of the major political parties will make some mention of international relations related issues during election campaigns. General party policy documents may also contain a few lines. The opposition party critics for Foreign Affairs, National Defence, Security, International Development, Trade, etc. should be especially active in providing their party's views, either in blogs, the party web site, or other media. (Note: The Parliamentary web site provides a list of current Opposition Party Critics.)

Vision Green - Part 5: The Planet Needs Canada (and Vice Versa). Ottawa: Green Party of Canada. Oct. 15, 2007. 106 p. http://www.greenparty.ca/en/policy/visiongreen/partfive

The budget and planning documents, Estimates, Auditor General reports and their equivalents in provincial and municipal governments allow MPs and the public to see what the government is doing and whether it is working as well as it should. These documents are accessible to the public (on the web sites of each department and agency) to enhance accountability but do nothing if no one reads them. Read, ask questions, get involved...

Dept. of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, CIDA, Department of Defence, etc. Links to their web sites are in the Finding & Evaluating portion of this guide.

See the web sites of the Research Organizations listed in International Relations — Finding & Evaluating Substantive Information to learn about the issues and find links to other organizations of interest. The following are some of the advocacy groups working in various areas of international relations that welcome others to get involved:

Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC). http://www.ccic.ca