Just last month I had the distinct pleasure of welcoming you and Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to Canada.  We met with some of my most senior ministers as well as in private to discuss issues of pressing importance to both the UN and to Canada.

We talked about the importance of the Paris Agreement in combatting climate change and creating a clean economy alongside our international partners.  We discussed Canada’s new refocused approach for Iraq, Syria, and the broader region.

Mr. Ban expressed his appreciation for the example Canada has set in re-settling Syrian refugees and confronting the global migration and refugee crisis.

We also touched on a subject that’s very important to me.  Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls around the world, and the essential leadership men also have to play on that front.

In addition, I reiterated Canada’s commitment to ensuring a successful world humanitarian summit in May.

My wife Sophie and I were honoured to host a dinner for the UN Secretary General at the end of his visit to Ottawa.  There I stated that Canada was looking forward to a renewed role at the United Nations in the years ahead.  So today I am in New York to formally announce our intention to return to the UN Security Council table.

Canada will actively pursue a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2021-2022 term.

And today, I’m in New York to formally announce our intention to return to the UN Security Council table. Canada will actively pursue a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2021-2022 term.

Now, it’s one thing to say that we want to sit on the Security Council.  Let me tell you why we want to be there.  In recent months Canada has demonstrated leadership on a number of important UN priorities.  We’ve led on climate change, we’ve led on support for refugees and we’ve led on our important role in the Middle East, including the promotion of security and stability, increasing humanitarian assistance, and support for building longer term resilience.  We have made it clear both in domestic policy and in international fora that respect for diversity, commitment to inclusion, and steadfast support for human rights are central to how we define ourselves as a country.

These core values not only lend to greater equality among citizens but also play a pivotal role in ensuring peace and security within and between nations.  We are determined to revitalize Canada’s historic role as a key contributor to United Nations peacekeeping in addition to advancing current reform efforts.  And Canada will increase its engagement with peace operations not just by making available our military, police and specialized expertise, but also by supporting the civilian institutions and civil society that help prevent conflict, bring stability to fragile states and help societies recover in the aftermath of crises.

Protecting vulnerable populations, leading on the world stage, and engaging on some of this era’s greatest challenges, this is the Canada of today.  This is how we build the world of tomorrow

Canada has been a member of the United Nations since its creation in 1945. Over several decades of engagement, we’ve championed core Canadian values like pluralism, gender equality, and respect for peace.  Today, we’re vocal supporters of UN conflict prevention and disarmament efforts, food security, and maternal, newborn, and child health.

We lead efforts to end child, early, and forced marriage. And Canada is host country to UN organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, and the Secretariat for the Convention on Biodiversity.

Just yesterday, Minister Hajdu announced that Canada is seeking election to the Commission on the Status of Women from 2017 to 2021.  It’s an opportunity...

It’s another opportunity for Canada to engage multilaterally to support efforts to improve the situation of women around the world.

In an effort to revitalize our ongoing commitment to the UN, the government of Canada has engaged with many key leaders of the United Nations over the past few months. This includes the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, the Administrator of the UN Development Program and Chair of the UN Development Group, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights among others.

Next week we look forward to a visit from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Canada is ready once again to take a seat at the UN Security Council.  Our last term concluded a decade and a half ago in 2000.  With a renewed commitment to international peace and security, now is the time for our return.

Since 1945…

Since 1945, Canadians have accomplished extraordinary things in support of the UN’s mission to promote human rights, development and peace and security around the world.  We are determined to help the UN make even greater strides in support of its goals for all humanity.

My friends, it’s time. It’s time for Canada to step up once again.