While Canada’s former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper shunned the 193-member world body – the United Nations, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to give all he and his delegation can, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, next week.
By Bhupinder S. Liddar
While Canada’s former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper shunned the 193-member world body – the United Nations, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to give all he and his delegation can, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, next week.
According to Prime Minister Trudeau, who will be at the UN on September 19 and 20, Canada is keen to “making meaningful contributions to solving important global challenges, such as climate change, international peace and security, and refugees and migration.”
“The Government of Canada is committed to redefining its place in the world and promoting core Canadian values like diversity and inclusion, gender equality, and respect for peace worldwide,” according to the statement announcing the Prime Minister’s visit to New York. It adds, Mr. Trudeau will advocate for greater global leadership to address refugee and migrant crisis, reiterate Canada’s intention to once again play a major role in peacekeeping and conflict prevention efforts, and encourage countries to follow through on the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
This is exactly what Canada is all about and known for on world stage. This is the kind of engagement, on the international level, that befits Canada. These are Canadian values that Canada can project through engagement with international community at the United Nations.
Canada is the founding member of the United Nations and has been active since the founding of this world body in 1945 and played a key role in drafting the UN charter. The intent of setting up the organization by some 50 countries, following the disastrous Second World War, was to establish a regular forum for world leaders to meet and consult on various issues and to help resolve issues before they escalated into full fledged conflicts or humanitarian disasters. Foreign leaders, from presidents to prime ministers to foreign ministers meet, often on informal basis, at the UN General Assembly session every Fall, in New York.
Canada has made tremendous contributions, disproportionate to its size, over the decades, to world peace through its efforts at the United Nations, be it through contributions to peacekeeping operations, development assistance, or just playing the role of an honest broker.
Canada was instrumental in resolving the Suez Canal crisis in 1950s, under leadership of Foreign Affairs Minister and later Prime Minister Lester Pearson, who was awarded Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts and in helping establish peacekeeping operations. A Canadian, John Humphreys, played a key role in helping draft UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights – a milestone in the history of human and civil rights. Canada also played a significant role in helping draft International Law of the Seas Treaty, establish the International Criminal Court, and getting agreement on banning landmines, under the leadership of former Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, among many other achievements.
Unfortunately, former Prime Minister Harper shunned and despised the UN. On two occasions, in 2012 and 2013, Harper, while in New York at the same time as UN General Assembly session, refused the invitation to address it – the most insulting gesture by any leader to the world body! Harper instead sent, then foreign affairs Minister, John Baird, in his place. Harper disgraced Canada and its legacy on the international stage. Many thought it hurt Canada’s international reputation.
The international community took note of this slight. Because, when it came time to elect five non-permanent members to the prestigious Security Council of the UN, Canada was defeated for the first time in its attempt to seek a seat.
Fortunately, the damage is being repaired and Canada is ready to resume its traditional responsible and active role on world stage. Prime Minister Trudeau announced in March this year that Canada will seek to win back a seat on Security Council for 2021-22 term. He added, “It’s time for Canada to step up once again…We are determined to revitalize Canada’s role in peace-keeping…We are determined to help the UN make even greater strides in support of its goals for all humanity”.
Canadians ought to be proud that their country is be back on the international stage, playing an active and much-needed role in making a better world, for all humanity.
Bhupinder S. Liddar,is a former Canadian diplomat and founding editor/publisher of “Diplomat & International Canada” magazine. Contact: [email protected] or visit www.liddar.ca
