Newman: Is there any consequence to Harper’s decision not to address the UN General Assembly?

By:
Don Newman
/
27 September, 2012
By: Don Newman
Chairman of Canada 2020, Senior Columnist with ipolitics.ca

Yes.

This will convince the countries that did not support our Security Council bid that they were right.

Refusing to address the General Assembly will be seen as disrespectful to the body where countries, whatever their size or economic clout, have a one nation-one vote equality.

In an emerging bi-polar and then multi-polar world, Canadian influence can only be enhanced with smart Canadians advancing good ideas in multilateral forums.

The decision by the prime minister to snub the General Assembly will further marginalize Canadian influence that is already in decline, and for that reason is a mistake.

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