MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 12, 2010

UN Security Council loss a direct result of Harper’s policies, says Council of Canadians

Ottawa – The Council of Canadians is blaming the Harper government for Canada’s loss in its bid for a seat on the UN Security Council today.

The organization argues this historic loss is a direct result of the Harper government’s refusal to recognize the human right to water, being virtually alone in not signing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and consistently undermining action on climate change in Canada and internationally. For the past 18 months, the Council of Canadians has argued that Harper government must reverse its position on these key issues in order to demonstrate that it deserves a seat on the Security Council.

“The Harper government has been the only government in the world to be consistently against these major UN initiatives and worse, has been actively working to undermine these treaties and efforts,” says Council of Canadians national chairperson Maude Barlow. “With the Security Council vote the other 191 member states have sent a clear message that these positions are not in alignment with UN norms and that Canada cannot deny its UN obligations and still expect to be welcomed onto the Security Council.”

The Council of Canadians hopes that this vote will be a wake-up call for all Canadians that after almost five years in power, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has diminished Canada’s international standing to the point that what is normally a rubber-stamp for Canada to take our regular rotation on the Security Council has become a national embarrassment.

“Mr. Harper has let Canadians down in this historic loss, but he should not retreat to the G8 as his preferred body for decision-making,” says Council of Canadians director of campaigns and communications Brent Patterson. “We hope that Mr. Harper takes from this defeat a recognition of the need for real action on Indigenous rights, the right to water, and climate change to begin to regain the world's trust, and commit to these issues through the UN.”

In May, the Council of Canadians hand delivered a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressing concerns about positions the Harper government has taken on water, the climate and Indigenous rights. In September, the Council of Canadians faxed a letter to the 192 permanent missions at the United Nations outlining these concerns.

-30-

For More Information:

Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians, 613-795-8685, .