Dial PM for a fair UN

Editorial

Canada’s voting record on rote anti-Israel denunciations at the United Nations has been a perennial thorn in the side of this country’s Jewish community and others who care about fairness and balance.

This year, we expected better, as the federal government has indicated it will no longer blindly support the scads of annually regurgitated condemnations of the Jewish state.

Yet, as the UN enters the silly season, indications are not good. On the first nine resolutions to come before committees of the General Assembly this year, Canada voted for seven of them. Many more votes are coming in the near future.

The federal government has heard the voices of Canadian Zionists and advocates for support of the only democratic jurisdiction in the Middle East – but maybe they haven’t heard them loudly enough.

National Jewish bodies are calling on those concerned about Canada’s voting behavior to call their member of Parliament, the prime minister and the foreign affairs minister.

We agree. If you believe that Canada should oppose resolutions that lambaste Israel with no objectivity or sense of context, please contact your elected officials.

Prime Minister Paul Martin’s office can be reached at 613-992-4211. The office of Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew is 613-995-1851. Contact information for your member of Parliament is online at www.gc.ca. Have you got a minute?