Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered a speech this afternoon at the UN General Assembly that was a “straight-out pitch” for a seat on the UN Security Council. Some reaction:
Bob Rae, Liberal Foreign Affairs critic:
The key thing is this is a bid for Canada. This is not a bid about one government or another government. I think what I found in Mr. Harper’s speech was that he emphasized Canada’s 65-year commitment to the United Nations and I think that is the point. It is a 65-year commitment, it is not a one or two or three-year commitment. It is not about what a government has done this year or last year, it is about what Canada has done over – over a very long time in our history at the – at the UN and on the world stage.
And that is why – I think all Canadians would be very supportive of a place for Canada on the Security Council, not based on the record of the last year or two or three one way or the other, but based on what we as a country have done over – over 65 years, since the formation of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945. I think that is the key point.
I think the case for Canada is very very strong and I think the case was made effectively by the prime minister, but I think frankly it transcends partisanship and it transcends one political party or another, you know, when the prime minister is at the United Nations, speaking on behalf of Canada and talking of 65 years of Canadian experience, that is, I think, a story that everybody needs to hear and he wasn’t just talking about his own government, he was talking about the achievement sand the accomplishments of many different governments and I think that is the way we should approach it. I think we would be much better off in foreign policy if we looked much longer and harder at the things that we are doing together as a country and not see it as some – as some partisan exercise. As far as I’m concerned, it is not a partisan exercise and I think that is the approach that we should be taking.
Jack Layton, NDP Leader:
Well, of course we hope that we are given the opportunity as a country to be on the Security Council. I’m not sure the speech is going to do it because I think there are some obstacles that our own government has put in the way of garnering some support. Our freezing of international aid, even though according to the Prime Minister we’re in a strong position economically, that doesn’t wash very well with those who are in real need. I think also the approach that he’s taking around fundamental issues like human rights, the aid to the Palestinians and the refugees, these are problems that stand in the way. We haven’t even played the kind of honest broker role that Canada has traditionally played when we’ve been given the opportunity to be on the Security Council. So I worry that actions of this government could be jeopardizing our ability to serve.
Paul Dewar, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic
The Prime Minister’s speech at the United Nations was very underwhelming. Canada right now is desperately trying to win a seat in the Security Council and what we know is that there are many question marks whether or not we’ll win it which, if we don’t win a seat on the Security Council would be devastating for Canada. We’ve had a seat on the Security Council six times since 1948 — once every decade. If we fail to win a Security Council seat, it will set our country back for a number of years and obviously will muffle our voice on the world stage.
What we heard from Mr. Harper was very, very underwhelming. He said that Canada is eligible for a seat on the Security Council and that we are ready to serve. He didn’t make the argument as to why we deserve a seat on the Security Council. That’s what’s missing and that’s what makes many of us concerned.
I’ve talked to diplomats and they are saying well, we haven’t decided yet. Normally at this time, we would have known whether or not member states were going to support us and we would have had it locked in and we would have had assurances that we’re going to win the seat on the Security Council.
Paul Dewar said: “I’ve talked to diplomats and they are saying well, we haven’t decided yet.”
Dewar repeated the same thing on Power & Politics. If he was talking to foreign diplomats, Mr. Dewar should be ashamed of himself for talking down Canada, which both the Liberals and the NDP usually do.
Should Canada not get the seat, they'll likely gloat about a Stephen Harper “failure.” Charlatans.