Eye View 

by David Charbonneau

UN rejection slap in face for Canada

October 14, 2010


Canada's Conservative government has managed to do what no other has done in the history of the United Nations - - lost a seat on the Security Council. Canada's loss means Portugal's gain.

The loss matters because the Security Council has authority. Resolutions are binding on all member countries regardless of whether they have a seat at the table or not. The Security Council has more clout and greater international legitimacy than the G20. It continues to have the moral authority and global voice that American-led "coalitions of the willing" and ill-advised NATO operations do not.

"It's the crème de la crème," says former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Security Council. Despite Prime Minister Harper's attempt to spin the loss, the U.N. is the only game in town as the world power shift to Asia.

Sadly, Canada's loss reflects how other nations view Canada. The U.N. vote reflects lack of confidence in Canada's role as a peacekeeper and honest broker. Former Canadian ambassador the U.N. Paul Heinbecker explains: "Countries take the measure of another country, add up the pluses and minuses, and come to a conclusion." Canada was found to be wanting. "It's a significant defeat," he added.

Given the indifference of Canada's government towards the U.N., the outcome was predictable. Last year, our prime minister snubbed the U.N. by ducking out for coffee at Tim Horton's for a photo-op. While U.S. President Obama took the time to speak at the U.N., Mr. Harper couldn't be bothered. This year, after four years of silence, Harper finally made a desperate last-minute pitch at the U.N. portraying Canada as a global citizen.

Canada has never been less of a global citizen. While Canadians take pride in our role as peacekeepers, our government acts otherwise. The number of soldiers we commit to peacekeeping could comfortably fit into a school bus.

Our government's bias in favour Israel has made it clear to the Arab world that we are not fair or impartial. Harper supported a raid on Lebanon in which a Canadian U.N. observer was killed by Israeli soldiers. Our government cut back on African aid and placed a freeze on foreign-aid funding. Canada now ranks eighteenth in the world in terms of our U.N. aid based on our Gross Domestic Product.



 
Canada ignored its U.N. Kyoto commitments to reduce climate change. We are one of the worst air polluters in the world per capita according to the OCED. A prominent British environmentalist has declared that "Stephen Harper and Environment Minister Jim Prentice threaten to do as much damage to Canada's international standing as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney did to that of the United States."

Given Harper's indifference to the U.N., it's not clear why he sent ministers around the world in a bid to capture the prized seat. Was it just another badge to add to his collection of lapel pins from the G20? U.N. members apparently saw through Harper's crass attempt to grab the seat.

It wasn't always this way, Heinbecker explained. "There is no doubt that Canada can play this game. We proved it the last time we served on the Security Council." Canada implemented well-thought-out proposals: leading the fight on blood diamonds, promoting the creation of the International Criminal Court, protecting civilians caught up in armed conflict, "smart sanctions" against unruly regimes, and more. Our Human Security initiative still resonates, even though our government has stifled it for ideological reasons.

Canadians invented the principle of "the responsibility to protect" civilians in conflict and should have contributed more than a school bus full of peacekeepers as a demonstration of our commitment.

We have squandered our reputation as an honest broker at the cost of blindly supporting U.S. misadventures. We will continue loose respect as it ties itself to U.S. hegemony. Canada will remain a passive policy-taker while Portugal becomes a policy-maker.

The Conservatives want to blame everyone else but themselves. In typical fashion, the come out swinging at Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff for suggesting that we didn't deserve the seat. This is a dangerous game because it elevates Ignatieff to a position of deal-breaker and international statesman.

I wish Portugal well and envy the powerful role they will play. Meanwhile, Canada's government has ten years plan their next application for a U.N. seat. It would help if we walk the talk of being good global citizens before we reapply.
 


 David Charbonneau is the owner of Trio Technical.
He can be reached at dcharbonneau13@shaw.ca
 





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