Canada and Mexico established diplomatic relations in 1944 and they are not often associated with controversy. However, in recent months the relationship has acquired a bitter tone stemming from Canada’s refusal to remove stringent visa requirements for Mexican citizens travelling to Canada.

Francisco Suarez, Mexico's ambassador to Canada, earlier this year described Mexico's relations with Canada as having lost their "dynamism."

Interestingly, PricewaterhouseCoopers recently estimated that Mexico's economy would be the seventh largest in the world by 2050, making it essential that Canada reinforce relations with this future economic colossus...

A prime example of Canada's over-reliance on trade is exemplified in the current relationship with Mexico. As Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated in February, agreements signed that month with Mexico are centered on "commerce with a view to generating jobs and economic growth here at home." While seeking commercial relations between states is rarely quarrelsome, the characterization of Canada-Mexico relations as merely financial is short-sighted. As [Joe] Clark [former prime minister] ...suggests, Canada needs a comprehensive and "soft power-based re-engagement with international partners" to better "respond to the challenges" of the modern world to "renew Canada's international reach and credentials." Indeed, a new Memorandum of Understanding with Mexico does little to address the long list of challenges, like poverty and illiteracy, that hamper the prospect of stable growth.

Despairingly, Mexico is ranked 71st in the world in the United Nations’ Human Development Index. Mexico's mean years of schooling rests at 8.47. Nearly seven per cent of the population is illiterate, and about 16 per cent of Mexican citizens live below or near the threshold for "multidimensional poverty."

To foster a more co-operative relationship, Canada needs to extend a hand of friendship in helping improve Mexico's standard of living. The failure to build stronger relations with Mexico via education promotion and poverty alleviation represents a major foreign policy failure—it erodes Canada's positive reputation and capacity to play a leading role in the future international order.

As the PricewaterhouseCoopers report notes, growth projections are contingent upon stable growth and "there are many uncertainties" concerning long-term estimates. To help Mexico achieve greater certainty about its growth projection, Canada can make a small but beneficial effect. Multidimensional poverty is a major concern in Mexico, and Canada can provide steep tax breaks or subsidies for organizations, like Habitat For Humanity, that can raise Mexico's standard of living.

If Canada can successfully promote charitable efforts in Mexico, it would encourage stable development while improving the stock of Canadian soft power. Although Mexico's problems will not be solved overnight, or by Canadian efforts alone, such efforts will foster a more co-operative relationship between Canada and Mexico.

Mexico's challenges go well beyond education deficiencies and poverty. Shaul Schwarz's chilling documentary, Narco Cultura, illuminates the complexities surrounding Mexico's extensive corruption and drug trade.

These pose major threats to Mexico's stable economic growth in the long term. However, Joe Clark emphatically illustrates "there are alarming developments in almost every country in the world," and there is "no reason to stand back from engaging societies." Canada cannot afford to step back from the challenges facing the developing world and expect to maintain an influential role in international affairs. To secure a prominent position in the emerging international order, Canada needs to broaden relations with bourgeoning world powers. More effectively engaging Mexico represents the first stage of that process.

This has been excerpted from the 10 September 2014 editorial for the Embassy.