But will the PM’s foreign policy get in the way of election?
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s pitched his wares at the United Nations on Thursday in a bid to secure a coveted spot for Canada on the Security Council. “If we are elected, we are ready to serve,” Harper said in a speech that touched on Canadian foreign aid, its chairmanship this year of the G8 and G20, and its respect for the sovereignty of all nations. “We shall be informed by these ideals and strive to further them, just as we have striven to implement Security Council resolutions.” Canada has never before lost in a race for a spot on the Council, though it’s hardly assured of winning the vote—scheduled for Oct. 12—this time around. Its recent stances on climate change and Israel, among others, are expected to turn some countries against Canada.