Lloyd Axworthy

Education, Sustainability & Globalization Expert

An eloquent statesman, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Lloyd Axworthy believes foreign policy isn't just for diplomats and hopes to create a centre for information-based dialogue, conferencing and learning, connecting with other similar institutions around the world and with the public.

As Past-Director of the Liu Centre for the Study of Global Issues and current President of the University of Winnipeg, Lloyd Axworthy guides development of research, policies and partnerships aimed at solving many of the most pressing local and global issues, such as governance, environmental change, sustainability and human security.

Axworthy has set out a bold, innovative plan to improve access and retention of aboriginal post-secondary students. Proposing a comprehensive approach, his Tapping on the Shoulder program looks at housing, financial, and social initiatives and as an all-encompassing approach to sustainability in communities.

He is also a current member of the UN International Commission for on Legal Empowerment and the Poor. Teh Commission focuses on a plan to ensure that all peoples are given legal rights, in the goal to reduce poverty dramatically worldwide. Many developing countries don’t even have records of their citizens, much less laws in place to protect them. In such situations, poverty is inevitable.

While in Parliament, Lloyd Axworthy pursued an active foreign policy agenda. He was instrumental in Canada's successful candidacy for membership on the United Nations Security Council and was the impetus behind several major initiatives at the United Nations.

First elected to Parliament in 1979, Axworthy served as Minister of Employment and Immigration, Minster of Transport, Minister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.  With a significant focus on international relations, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Axworthy became a strong advocate of Canada's tradition of multilateralism.

In 2003, Dr. Axworthy was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of Canada's highest honours for lifetime achievement.

Dr. Axworthy's book is called Navigating a New World: Canada's Global Future. In this book, Dr. Axworthy explores how we can become active citizens in the 21st century, and discusses why Canada has the skills to lead the world into a better 21st century, making the world a safer, more sustainable and humane place to live.


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