General

Canada spent nearly $1M lobbying for seat on UN Security Council

Diplomatic trips listed in documents introduced in the House of Commons

When Canada failed to earn an elected spot on the UN Security Council last fall, it seemingly wasn’t for lack of trying. The Harper government spent $884,000 sending Foreign Affairs diplomats on trips around the world to advance Canada’s bid. Some 150 trips, from the Polynesian island of Tuvalu to the Solomon Islands, were listed in documents that surfaced this week in the House of Commons. Canada also picked up the tab for several outings with foreign diplomats, including a New York Yankees game and a performance of Cirque du Soleil. The failed bid was the first time in 50 years that Canada lost out on Security Council seat—a failure some attributed to the Conservative government’s foreign policy (while the PMO pointed the finger at Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, for not publicly supporting Canada’s candidacy).

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Zack Lee (photo)