Canadians aren’t considered some of the most civil people for nothing – but our reputation as a global peacekeeper is in decline.
For the first time since the United Nations was founded, Canada failed in a bid to get a seat on its Security Council – losing the preliminary votes to Portugal and Germany. Which is when Canada withdrew.
This is just the beginning of the end for us as an international diplomat, unless we can return to the brilliance of former prime minister Lester Pearson’s peacekeeping policies.
During Canada’s peacekeeping glory days, Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in resolving the Suez Crisis of 1956.
“We need action not only to end the fighting but to make the peace.” He claimed that “my own government would be glad to recommend Canadian participation in such a United Nations force, a truly international peace and police force.” This planted the seed for Canada to emerge as a global peacekeeper.
But for all of his profound wisdom, these words today are just nostalgia.
Currently, Canada ranks 55th out of 108 troop-contributing countries, behind some of the world’s poorest countries such as Togo, Fiji, Nepal and even Sierra Leone.
Cue the latest peacekeeping disasters. Canada is currently involved in only less than half of the UN peacekeeping missions and of the total UN peacekeeping troops, Canada contributed fewer than 100 in a grand total of more than 100,000.
While this is not meant to belittle the actions of our current peacekeepers, the commitment seems shockingly small for a nation whose reputation was built on peacemaking and diplomacy.
Talk about losing ground in the international community. It’s time to follow in Pearson’s footsteps and give our foreign policy a much-needed kick in the derriere to return to our former prestige.
We can no longer rely on the policies of the United States, whose gargantuan power and influence will not be around forever. The best chance for Canada to establish itself on the international stage lies with peacekeeping.
And the perfect place for Canada to reestablish our role as global pacifier is the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The “Great War of Africa” is the deadliest conflict since the Second World War. Almost 5.5 million people have been killed since it began in 1998. Last year, the UN reported that about 15,000 people were raped in the eastern region of Congo. In this type of place where violence and lawlessness is all too familiar, Canada needs to intervene.
Stephen Lewis, former Canadian ambassador to the UN, told the Globe and Mail that “the Congo is just desperate for peacekeepers, and Canada is well-suited to make a significant contribution in what is possibly the worst place in the world for women and one of the worst conflict areas on the planet. It would restore us to the international position that we should hold.”
And with all of our efforts in the quagmire that is Afghanistan, our military should be well- accustomed and trained to move into the Congo and resolve the conflict. While the UN has been in the Democratic Republic of Congo for years, it has failed to quell the violence.
Traditional peacekeeping – blue berets standing between two opposing armies – is no longer the only reality. In this new world order, we now face militants who have modern weaponry and no boundaries or limits.
Instead of focusing on American military efforts like Afghanistan, we need to pave our own foreign policy road.
With increased military spending, experienced troops and our diplomatic prowess, this is the perfect opportunity for Canada to reclaim its leadership position on the peacekeeping front.
A Nanos Research Poll showed that the public believes peacekeeping missions should be at the top of our military agenda.
So, with the military capability and the support of the people, why has our relationship with the UN been diminishing?
The answer in two words: Stephen Harper. His military spending and our strengthened forces should be used for peacekeeping efforts, rather than becoming involved with the next military predicament the United States has finds itself in.
No wonder our hope for a seat on the security council evaporated. In his speech about foreign policy, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff denounced Harper’s attitude towards international relations as a failure. He recognized that “we are not the Canada we thought we were …we don’t command the same respect that we once took for granted.”
Of course, our military’s priority should be to provide national security, but why stop there? By returning to the international stage as diplomatic peacemaker, Canada will no longer need to rely on the United States, but will be able to economically, politically and socially align ourselves with other nations – once we earn back our authority on global issues. To export our civility and morality for the betterment and progress of humanity truly shows the integrity of a nation.
Those loyal beer commercials sure got one thing right: “I believe in peacekeeping, not policing . . . and I am Canadian.”