Canada's Role in the UN
Canada's International Relations
The United Nations was formed in the spring of 1945 by Canada and 49 other nations. The initial goal of the UN was to provide and keep peace throughout the World, and to support social and economic progress.
UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan
Though Canada, in terms of population and size of military, is relatively small, Canada's assistance in the UN, specifically peacekeeping, has been very beneficial to the world.
Canada is, and always has been, a leading nation in many UN organizations, including Food and Agriculture, World Health, and UNICEF, as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency.
One of the UN's major councils is the Security Council. Currently, Canada is not a permanent member, and does not even have a rotational seat on the council. In fact, over the past 50 years, Canada has only been on the council 5 times. However, Canada remains influential in the council decisions.
Since the end of 2002, the Security Council's major project has been regarding the situation involving the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, and the Iraqi people. After passing many resolutions, including 1441 passed late last year, the UN had still not come to a final decision as to the action plan need to be taken. Weapons inspectors had been in Iraq for several recent weeks, looking for weapons of mass destruction that the dictator claims he does not have.
The Security Council has 5 permanent members; China, France, the UK, the USA, and the Russian Federation. The US and the UK have decided that enough time has been given to Saddam Hussein, and that it is time to enforce military action against Mr. Hussein's regime. Originally, they went to the UN, requesting a new resolution that would permit their entry into Iraq. However, France, a permanent member of the Security Council, threatened to veto (a term meaning a 'no' vote that stops the resolution from being passed). The French Prime Minister, as did the Canadian, felt that giving the weapons inspectors more time to do their work would be more beneficial than a war.
The US and the UK, along with Spain and more than 40 other countries, are going to go ahead, without the UN approval, and enter Iraq with the intent to remove Saddam Hussein, and free the Iraqi people of dictatorship. Canada has said from the beginning that if the UN does not support an attack, they will not take part in the attack. "This does not, however, mean that they are not involved in the war. There are many aspects relating to the war that Canada will be involved in. Canada still presently has ships in the Gulf as active participants in the War on Terrorism. Canada has also sent troops over to help extinguish the oil wells that have been set fire. Canada's technology in this area is far beyond that of any other nation. When the war has finished and the Iraqi regime has been removed from Iraq, Canadian peace keepers will be sent over in the reconstruction effort of Iraq."
Canada's main role in the UN is their peacekeeping efforts. Canada has participated in almost every mission brought on by the UN; 42 total. In total, Canada has lost 113 peacekeepers during missions. The Canadian forces have been recognized for their exceptional efforts in peacekeeping missions.
Canada has been an active member in the UN since it was started in 1945, specifically, and will continue to do so in the future. Canada respects the UN decisions, and obeys by them fully.
Text
by Daryn Collis
Earth photo
used with permission from NASA
Graphics provided
with permission by http://www.un.org
Athens District
High School