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OTTAWA - In a stunning swipe at Canada's foreign policy shift under the Conservative government, United Nations voters Tuesday rejected Canada's bid for a seat on the prestigious Security Council.

Within minutes of the historic loss, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon was blaming Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, who last week questioned whether Canada deserves a seat on the 10-member council.

"I can say that Michael Ignatieff's statements hurt us," Cannon told reporters in New York.

Ignatieff had criticized Canada's foreign policy record, particularly when it comes to climate change and foreign aid priorities.

Ignatieff and other opposition parties are expected to respond to the UN loss later Tuesday afternoon.

Cannon said international diplomats noted that lack of unity in the Canadian bid when it came time to vote.

Canada was up against Portugal and Germany for two seats the council reserves for "Western European and Other States."

To win a seat, a country must get two-thirds of the votes cast.

In the first ballot, Germany won outright. Portugal finished second but five votes shy of the super-majority while Canada was third, 14 votes short of the required majority.

On the second ballot, both Canada and Portugal still failed to receive the two-thirds majority but Canada lost a third of the support it had on the first ballot and, once again, finished behind Portugal.

Before a third round of voting could take place, Canada withdrew. Portugal went on to claim the prized seat.

Cannon rejected the suggestion that the failure to win a seat is connected to his government's foreign policy, particularly its stance towards Middle East politics. Since taking office in 2006, the Conservatives have been strong supporters of Israel, at times even describing Canada as Israel's ally.

Former and current diplomats believe that shift towards Israel cost Canada support with Arab and Muslim countries, which together control more than a third of the votes at the UN.

"I do not think that this is a repudiation of Canada's foreign policy. Canada ran a campaign based on principle," said Cannon.

As recently as two weeks ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper pitched Canada's candidacy for the Security Council to the 192 member countries at the UN.

But despite depositing bottles of maple syrup on the desks of voters Tuesday and bringing in some uniformed Mounties as part of a last-minute pitch for support, UN voters soundly rejected Canada's bid for a seat.

In six tries - about once every decade since the creation of the UN - Canada had never lost an election to the Security Council.

But despite depositing bottles of maple syrup on the desks of voters Tuesday

Mikey wrote:Well, it is telling that it's even considered plausible that being a supporter of Israel could be grounds for lack of support in the UN.

Be that as it may,

But despite depositing bottles of maple syrup on the desks of voters Tuesday

Really, Canada? That's how you tried to buy votes?

SolkaTruesilver wrote:

Mikey wrote:Well, it is telling that it's even considered plausible that being a supporter of Israel could be grounds for lack of support in the UN.

Be that as it may,

But despite depositing bottles of maple syrup on the desks of voters Tuesday

Really, Canada? That's how you tried to buy votes?

Stephen Harper and his conservative government are a bunch of illiterate rednecks who happens to be able to finance their party with the oil from Alberta, which is probably the most polluting oil producing process on earth.

His f***ing foreign minister showed up at a diplomatic event in France wearing no tie, "because he was going on vacation with his wife thereafter". They got no prestance, they got no perspective of anything going in the world, simply drawing lines regarding Good and Evil as simplistic as Bush's. Ergo, Israel = Good, whatever they might do. Gay = Evil.

BigJKU316 wrote:This is better than the usual neutralist, non-committal mush that constitutes most of Canada's foreign policy. At least they have an opinion.

SolkaTruesilver wrote:

BigJKU316 wrote:This is better than the usual neutralist, non-committal mush that constitutes most of Canada's foreign policy. At least they have an opinion.

There has been plenty of Canadian influence through the world, even for a country this size (which is still somewhat light-medium weight), just not on the scale of the US or France.

The guy repudiated Kyoto and blamed it international on the Liberal party of Canada. They made a mess of the environment conferences they were appointed to. The recent G20 meeting in Canada was a debacle.

The Conservative party is a freaking mess and ruining our international reputation.

Tyyr wrote:I have trouble viewing Portugal as more relevant on the international scene than Canada.

Mikey wrote:I wouldn't say that Canada is a complete non-entity. The Canuck contributions in Afghanistan are well-documented, as they were in WWII - remember the Devil's Brigade? However, Canada is generally seen internationally as a contributor and something of a follower, rather than a shaper of policy; which one would believe would lead to a non-threatening aspect to more assertive nations on the Sec Council.

SolkaTruesilver wrote:the U.S.'s interests are our interests.

Tyyr wrote:

SolkaTruesilver wrote:the U.S.'s interests are our interests.

Yes, now about statehood. There's a lot of paperwork but we might as well make it offical...