During the 67th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Harper made Canada known on the world stage, with two of his actions each sending a statement.
When asked to speak, Harper declined the offer, stating that he had nothing he wished to say to the Assembly at the time. In doing so, he accentuated a fact that many have believed – that Harper is moving Canada towards a more independent state, and less of a country which works with, and, as some believe, for, the United Nations. Harper has said that he doesn’t believe in the importance of the United Nations, stating that he believes the Canadian government should “no longer to please every dictator with a vote at the United Nations.” Though this isn’t the first time he’s done this, the fact that he turned down an opportunity to talk at this session, which is about settling international disputes, shows his position on what he believes the United Nations should do when it comes to issues such as Syria or the Palestinian Occupied Territories. With many other influential world leaders speaking to the General Assembly including Obama and Hollande (France’s President), Harper has given up a chance to present Canada’s hopes and desires to the world stage – or has he? Though numerous countries seized the chance to speak to the world, Harper’s act sent a message to the world – though not a positive one. With Harper being in New York at the time, his actions have been taken as an insult to many, with Harper instead accepting an award for being a “world statesman” during the meeting. During the award ceremony, however, he did speak about some current issues, speaking about the importance of solving the situation in Syria and offering his support to Israel. Though this action did say something about what Harper believes, his next action sent a stronger message to many more people.
When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran, began to speak to the General Assembly on September 26, the Harper and the Canadian delegation did something which, though it has been done before, could not have been good for Canada – Iran relations. As soon as Ahmadinejad came up to the podium, the Canadian delegation stood up and exited the building, walking out in what has been seen by many as a sign of what Canada thinks of Iran and their leader. Though this very action was also done last year, the fact that it was done less than a month after Harper closed the Canadian embassy in Iran and made the Iranian diplomats leave Canada has made relations more tense than usual. Also, the fact that this act made Canada one of only a few countries which does not have an embassy in Iran has not helped relations at all, both bilaterally and on the world stage.
Right now, even though Harper has begun to lead Canada on a path different than what was set by his predecessors, this path may help make Canada stronger, a fact which can only be tested by time.