Foreword to the first edition

• Author: Hon. Bill Graham
• Profession: Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
• Pages: 21-22

Foreword to the rst

edition

A review of Canadian case law shows that Canadi an courts have, in the

past, had little occasion to consider points of international law in their

judgments. Perhaps for this reason, importa nt concepts that are familiar

to international law yers – the dierences between customar y laws and

conventions, the signicance of jus cogens, and the role of evolving norms

of international law (or “soft law”), to name a few exa mples – have not

always received a sophisticated treatment in our jurisprudence. Yet an

understanding of these matters is essential in determini ng how inter-

national norms are incor porated into, or rejected by, our legal system.

It is the thesis of this book that a lack of basic international legal

understanding on the par t of lawyers and judges is no longer permis-

sible in the integrated world in which we live, and t hat we must educate

ourselves better if we are to manage that integration process in the

interests of Canadian soc iety. It is a thesis to which I entirely and en-

thusiastica lly subscribe.

It is Canada’s good fortune to enjoy a strong reputation on the

international scene. As the only G country that was never a colonial

power, the world perceives Canada to be an honest broker. As a lead-

ing member of both the Commonwealth and la Francophonie, Canada is

looked to by smaller powers as a t rusted intermediary. As a peacekeep -

er, Canada is relied upon by countries in need. As a democracy with a

proven commitment to human rights, Canada is regarded as a model

for developing legal systems.

Yet while we may justly pride ourselves on our international

achievements, we must not ignore that internationa l law is a two-way

exchange. e steps we take to shape international aairs a lso shape

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