Liaison Newsletter > LIAISON Vol. 3, No. 4, July 1999 - Articles

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1999 AGM Examined Canada's Role in the UN
By Joan Broughton, Programme Officer, UNA-Canada

Warm western hospitality was the order of the day as delegates gathered in Edmonton the week-end of June 11 to 13 for the 53rd Annual General Meeting of UNA-Canada.. The Edmonton Branch orchestrated very fine arrangements at the University of Alberta and laid on a wonderful social evening at Old Fort Edmonton at the start of the events. Every Branch but one was represented by at least one delegate.

The week-end involved both sessions in which internal administrative and organizational matters were discussed and a seminar and presentations by invited guests which focused on Canada’s Human Security Agenda. The "house-keeping" sessions are essential to the growth and development of our Association. The sessions on substantive issues afforded an opportunity to exchange opinions on the current global agenda between ourselves and with key representatives of government and the community. Taken together, they fostered a sense of shared commitment and renewed energy among those who were able to gather for this annual reunion.

As a newly elected member of the Security Council (1999-2000) Canada has committed itself to the promotion of an expanded concept of human security. The AGM devoted a significant time to a discussion of both the related concepts and the prognosis for progress in their implementation. We were privileged to be joined by several key people to add their perspectives.

Ambassador Michel Duval, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN, kicked off the discussions with a keynote presentation (Canada on the Security Council: After 162 days). He reminded the audience that, while the press may have been essentially totally preoccupied with the crisis in Kosovo, the Council had been called on to consider/manage 23 crises since January. Council membership was proving to be as challenging as anticipated. He noted that, while Canada will bring our values and interests to bear on the Council during our term, the Security Council is not an institution open to revolutionary change and we have no illusions about the feasibility of introducing sweeping reforms. Evolution, however, is possible.

In the following panel the audience heard from Patricia Lortie, Director General of the International Organizations Bureau at DFAIT , who reflected further on the challenges and opportunities Canada faces as a member of the Council; Andy Knight, Associate Professor of Political Studies at the University of Alberta, who spoke on the concepts of soft power and their relevance to a middle power such as Canada; and Satya Das, columnist and foreign affairs writer with the Edmonton Journal, who focused on the questions of humanitarian assistance and human rights and the development of a mind-set that would facilitate the development of a culture of peace. There was a lively discussion after the presentations. An obvious topic of concern, and differences of opinion, revolved around the ongoing situation in Kosovo and Yugoslavia.

In the evening a presentation by the Hon. David Kilgour, Secretary of State for Latin America and Africa turned the spotlight on Canada’s relations with those two major portions of the global community. He touched on the related, and changing issues of trade and aid in connection with development, and on the balance between bilateral and multilateral commitments and programme delivery. He closed by noting that "Canada remains determined to ensure that the UN fulfills it essential role in support of peace, security and development".

At the end of the seminar and policy discussions the Assembly completed its formal business agenda. The out-going President, Muriel Smith, was warmly thanked for her dedicated work at the helm of the Association and presented with a limited edition print as a token of our collective appreciation. There were also thanks to other members of the Board who have finished terms (Michael Oliver, Gulzar Samji and Paul Gagner). Geoffrey Pearson thanked our Edmonton hosts and closed the meetings as the newly installed National President.