The Canadian government is looking for a seat on the UN Security Council; the most undemocratic institution in the world. Even if we do manage to get the two-year fixed term seat, we are only one of a 15 member Council. Ten of these members can raise their voice, but the Permanent Five have veto power and are the members with real clout: to authorize military force or send prosecutors after the Dictator in Sudan. The Security Council is an archaic institution left-over from post WW II planning and in my opinion it needs to be reformed immediately. Each of the five permanent members understands that each passing day these current arrangements remain the credibility of the UN takes a knock. Its amazing that in a time where we are seeing daily the evidence of poor governance in corporations, governments and international institutions, no individual or organization will speak out against the farce that is the UN Security Council...
CIDA cuts to Africa could hamper UN ambitions
BRIAN LAGHI AND JANE TABER
From Monday's Globe and Mail
March 16, 2009 at 4:33 AM EDT
OTTAWA — The Harper government has dispatched a senior MP to Africa to seek support for a Canadian seat on the UN's powerful Security Council, an effort that critics say may be hamstrung by this country's changes to African aid.
The trip by Deepak Obhrai, parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, Lawrence Cannon, is part of an all-out press being made in the face of what some critics say could be a tough campaign, given changes in foreign policy and a shift of aid away from certain African nations, including two that Mr. Obhrai will visit.
"The campaign is on," Mr. Obhrai said last week as he prepared to travel abroad. Mr. Obhrai will head to Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania to lobby well advance of the selection in October, 2010. Canada is up against Germany and Portugal, although Germany is considered almost a shoo-in for one of the spots. Critics say that reaching Canada's goal may be hampered, however, by a decision to transfer aid away from Africa to Latin America. "It's hard to see how the recent decision to cut CIDA programs in a number of African countries really helps the cause," said Bob Rae, the Liberal Party's critic for foreign affairs.
Last month, the minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency, Bev Oda, announced changes that would see 80 per cent of Canadian country-to-country aid focused on 20 nations. One of those favoured nations is Tanzania, while Malawi and Zambia are now off the list. A spokesperson for CIDA said those two nations could still qualify for cash from the other 20 per cent of the fund.
Paul Heinbecker, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations from 2000 to 2004, said the change in African aid could be troublesome to the Canadian efforts. "If you lessen your relationship with countries, you diminish the possibility that they're going to vote for you," he said. "You just have that much less connection with them, and there are a lot of African countries."
A spokeswoman for Mr. Cannon would not comment on whether the changes might make it more difficult to get the support of Malawi and Zambia. However, Catherine Loubier said overall aid to Africa has risen under the Conservative government. She also said Canada has made a substantial contribution to UN activities in Afghanistan, Haiti and Sudan. "We are actively promoting Canada's qualifications for the Security Council membership," she said. "We strongly think our track record is good."
There are 15 members on the council, five of whom are permanent, with the other 10 serving two-year terms. Canada has won election to the body roughly every 10 years and there are 192 countries eligible to vote. The council has a number of powers, including the establishment of peacekeeping operations, setting sanctions, and the right to authorize military action. Canada conducted a high-profile effort for the council for the 1999-2000 term, and has begun a similar campaign, although the current one is seen by former diplomats as a more difficult row to hoe.
Several weeks ago, Peter Kent, Canada's minister of state for the Americas, moved to secure votes for the seat while on a trip to Guyana. Mr. Kent was in the country to announce Canadian support for the candidacy of a Guyanese judge, Mohammed Shahabbuddeen, to become a member of the International Criminal Court. In exchange, Guyana is reportedly pledging to give its vote to Canada for the UN seat rather than to Portugal. Such diplomatic horse-trading is typically part of the effort to secure a seat, although Mr. Obhrai said he didn't plan to do any trading with the three nations he plans to visit this week. "We're seeking support from all the three countries," he said. "I don't think there is anything to trade with them. They are not standing for anything."
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