Climate change, refugees and peacekeeping are among the topics up for discussion as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets in Ottawa today with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
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“Their unique perspective will help guide us in developing policies that ensure our land, air and water are protected for future generations”, said Trudeau, in the statement.
The panel, chaired by retired judge of the Supreme Court of Canada Marie Deschamps, accusing the United Nations of having shown a “serious institutional failure” in its handling of allegations.
The previous Harper government was criticized for failing to make a strong bid for a council seat in 2010.
Ban joked that the P-M may already be more popular than his father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
Last week, Britain came under renewed pressure to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia over concerns the country was involved in indiscriminate bombing of civilians in the conflict in Yemen, following a speech by the secretary general in London urging United Nations permanent security council members to do more to halt the influx of weapons to the region.
At a news conference in Ottawa, Trudeau said he has indicated to Ban that Canada wants to “re-engage robustly” with the United Nations and the global community.
“The weather here is quite cold”, Ban said.
But political leaders at the federal and provincial levels are now dialling back expectations on a national plan to fight climate change.
The secretary general praised Canada’s role in the Paris talks and the Liberal government’s commitment to welcoming 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February, and urged Trudeau to increase the amount the country spends on development aid. “We also spoke about the world’s hot spots, including Syria”, he said.
Canada and three other countries – Australia, New Zealand and the United States – were the only nations to vote against the UN indigenous text in 2007.
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Trudeau promised Ban that Canada plans recommit to peacekeeping operations.
