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Friday, June 19, 2015

The demise of Canada's reputation

PM Harper: A burden on Canada

In the second of a two-part series, Bruce Livesey, writing for the National Observer, lays out a litany of decisions made by Prime Minister Harper that have undermined Canada’s reputation globally (“Is Harper the worst prime minister in history? Part two,” National Observer, 7 June 2015):

 Indeed, back in 2010, when Canada sought a seat on the UN’s Security Council and lost to Portugal – the first time in 50 years Canada has never gained a seat – it reflected how other nations had become appalled with Harper’s foreign policy.

The decrease in aid to African countries, the dissolution of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), alongside the prohibition of Canadian funded access to safe and legal abortions in poor countries are just a few from a laundry list of poor decisions resulting in a push away from the Canada we once knew.

 Canada’s UN peacekeeping role, which had already been slashed by the Chretien and Martin governments, has been nearly eradicated under Harper:

 “We’ve gone from being a major contributor to a situation today where we’re an insignificant contributor at a time when UN peacekeeping is at an all-time high,” said Peggy Mason, president of the Rideau Institute. “Every indication of the Harper government is they have no interest in peacekeeping – which is part and parcel of their hostile attitude towards the UN.

READ MORE: http://www.ceasefire.ca/?p=21297'


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