Bob Rae, former premier of Ontario will replace Marc-Andre Blanchard as the newly appointed ambassador to the United Nations for Canada, according to CBC.
The appointment was announced by the Prime Minister's Office on Monday. The change of appointment has swiftly follows Canada losing its bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council, losing out to Norway and Ireland on the first ballot.
Bob Rae had previously served as the premier of Ontario and the interim Liberal Party leader from 2011 to 2013. Rae has also held foreign policy-related positions such as Canada's special envoy regarding humanitarian issues amid the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Rae said that he was "very, very honoured" to have been selected for the position by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in an interview on CBC's Radio-Canada, noting that his Saul Rae, hist father, served as Canada's UN ambassador from 1972-1976. He lived in both Geneva and New York while holding those positions amid a life-long career as a diplomat. "It's in my DNA," added Rae.
"COVID-19 is a revealer — it reveals the weakness and fragility in all our institutions. This will be very much on my mind as we go forward," said Rae.
Rae said that Canada has plans to bring reforms to the UN following the COVID-19 pandemic, as many international institutions showed their abilities or lack there of during the crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) for example, is currently under much criticism for how many feel was a mishandling of the pandemic.
"The well-being of the world really depends on a rebuild and a reconstruction of our international institutions, and I think that's the task ahead for Canada and a great many countries," said Rae, adding that "authoritarianism and nationalism are making a comeback" in certain countries.
Canada, which acts as a middle power, must remain supportive of the UN and other multilateral institutions, said Rae.
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