Security Council seat not an end in itself for Canada, says Trudeau
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to play down Canada’s bid for a UN Security Council seat, saying Wednesday that winning would not be not an end in itself.
Securing a temporary seat on one of the world’s most influential groups would be an opportunity for Canada to stand up for human rights on the world stage, Trudeau said before departing New York after two days at the annual gathering of General Assembly leaders.
Trudeau cited numerous meetings in New York that were focused on advancing his agenda to level economic playing fields across the globe, including getting more girls to school in developing countries.
But his explanation for why Canada belongs on the powerful UN body struck some as a deliberate attempt to tamp down expectations because of the country’s low foreign aid spending compared to its competitors.