Lea Matheson is a former senior adviser to the president of the United Nations General Assembly, where she focused on issues of global governance.
As the UN approaches its 80th anniversary, it faces its biggest crisis. Long-standing challenges like gridlock in the Security Council, underfunding and lack of accountability are exacerbated by new challenges. The United States is cutting funding, withdrawing from global agreements and destabilizing organizations. Peacekeeping is contested, despite the intensifying global need. In this uncertain environment, Canada’s new government has an opportunity to step forward, defend the rules-based international order and demonstrate global leadership, beginning with the selection of the next secretary-general.
Canada has long defined itself by its commitment to multilateralism, peace and human rights, ideals it has consistently advanced through the UN. Canada was at the UN’s founding and, in the 80 years since, has influenced the UN’s principles and institutions, from drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to creating peacekeeping. However, history is not strategy. The failed bid for a UN Security Council seat in 2020 is a reminder that goodwill and declarations must be matched by sustained engagement and strategic vision.
The multilateral system has been a cornerstone for Canada’s development and continues to protect Canada’s security, sovereignty and prosperity. The new government’s stated vision for global leadership aligns with enhanced engagement through a comprehensive foreign policy review, renewed investment in diplomacy and partnerships, and a promise to defend the rules-based order.
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Multilateralism is not a luxury. Our ability to work together as a global community is essential to managing shared threats from climate change, pandemics, technological disruption and armed conflict. It is also crucial for maintaining prosperity and promoting justice, security and human rights. The rules-based order provides the framework for this co-operation, where state behaviour is guided by agreed-upon rules, norms and institutions designed for predictability, stability and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Landmark events occurring at the UN provide opportunities for Canada. Last year’s Pact for the Future summit aligned with many of Canada’s commitments, including sustainable development and climate action, while the Secretary-General’s UN80 Initiative offers a modernization platform to shape the organization’s future. The General Assembly will soon elect its 80th president, overseeing the selection of a new secretary-general. Inaction, however, diminishes Canada’s ability to lead. For example, Canada missed a chance to influence global governance by not nominating a candidate for the 80th president of the General Assembly. To strengthen its international standing, Canada must pro-actively seize such opportunities.
As the UN faces this critical moment, Canada can demonstrate leadership by taking concrete action. Two ways this can be achieved are by collaborating with diverse partners and by actively participating in the secretary-general selection process. With Germany set to hold the next presidency of the General Assembly, Canada should work in close partnership on this process and support a secretary-general candidate who will uphold the UN’s values and respond to the priorities of all member states.
Leadership requires renewed investment: financially, diplomatically and for the long term. Canada must reinvest in climate action, humanitarian responses, and peacekeeping to reclaim its credibility in conflict prevention and global co-operation. Additionally, it needs to reinforce UN values by defending the rights of marginalized and under-represented groups.
It is essential that Canada participates in meaningful reform. Working alongside the secretary-general and other partners, Canada can help advance efforts to reduce overlapping mandates, strengthen transparency, expand civil-society participation and pursue long-overdue Security Council reform.
This moment also requires longer-term thinking. Canada should resist falling back on familiar, fast and easy approaches, but propose and support new, bold or challenging ideas at the UN and other global institutions. This involves building coalitions well in advance, identifying Canadian candidates for key positions early and treating multilateralism as a substantive, core pillar of Canada’s overall policy approach.
Prime Minister Mark Carney brings rare global credibility few leaders can match. His call at the beginning of May with Secretary-General António Guterres sent the right signal. Now he must demonstrate its meaning in practice. Mr. Carney can demonstrate global leadership by taking strategic and concrete actions to uphold the UN and the rules-based international order. Leadership does not begin when it is easy. It begins in moments of difficulty.