The Council replies: Letters to the editor
UN seat undeserved

Brent Patterson
The Ottawa Citizen
July 3, 2009

Re: Canada battling for UN position, July 1.

The Harper government's goal of a seat on the United Nations Security Council should be denied until Canada formally recognizes water as a human right.

Canada is vying for this seat against Portugal and Germany, countries which already endorse the right to water.

Recognizing water as a human right is vital to ensuring that governments address the reality of more than a billion people who are currently without access to clean water. By 2025, the United Nations estimates that 2.8 billion people in 48 countries will be living in areas facing water stress or scarcity.

If the Harper government fails to respond to this global crisis, then it simply does not deserve a seat at the UN Security Council.

Brent Patterson, Ottawa
Director of campaigns, The Council of Canadians