Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says he believes it is more important to help out Canadians at home than to seek a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Canada for one of two seats for a two-year term that would begin in 2021, but it faces a tough fight from Norway and Ireland.
The Conservatives are pledging to decrease foreign-aid spending by 25 per cent. The plan includes cutting out funding for countries they consider to be hostile regimes, or as having too much money to need the help.
Asked whether that would hurt Canadasa国际传媒檚 bid for the UN seat it is seeking, Scheer said he was confident allies would recognize the countrysa国际传媒檚 contributions, including through its military efforts, around the world.
At the same time, he suggested securing the council spot would not be a priority for a Conservative government.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 more important to me that I help Canadians get ahead than curry favour at the United Nations,sa国际传媒� Scheer said Tuesday in Toronto.
The UN vote is next June.
Scheer noted his foreign policy announcement came the day when the party leaders would have been participating in an event the Munk Debates organized around the topic. Organizers said they cancelled the event because Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau decided not to take part.
Trudeau, who was meeting with mayors from the Greater Toronto Area about his gun-control policy on Tuesday, linked the proposed Conservative cuts to foreign assistance to their climate-change policy.
sa国际传媒淎ndrew Scheersa国际传媒檚 climate plan relies almost entirely on action overseas and now hesa国际传媒檚 proposing to stop supporting countries who are taking action overseas on fighting emissions,sa国际传媒� Trudeau said in Richmond Hill, Ont.
Trudeau also defended Liberal investments in foreign aid, although would not commit to increasing spending to reach 0.7 per cent of GDP, which is a target the United Nations set in 1970.
sa国际传媒淲e are continuing to invest in foreign aid, because we know that helping people around the world, particularly vulnerable women and girls, is a meaningful way of promoting prosperity and indeed security and stability that impacts Canadians as well,sa国际传媒� Trudeau said.
New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh, meanwhile, said his party would commit to increasing foreign aid spending to reach the UN target.
Singh also said that if Scheer is trying to find ways to pay for his promises, then cutting foreign aid is going about it the wrong way.
sa国际传媒淚t is shameful that he is talking about cutting foreign aid when there are massive inequalities in our country,sa国际传媒� Singh said Tuesday in Vancouver.
sa国际传媒淭he fact that he is talking about cutting foreign aid is a distraction,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淗e is missing the point. He is missing the whole plot here. Wesa国际传媒檝e got massive inequality in our country and we have to ask those at the very top, the ultra rich, to pay their fair share.sa国际传媒�
Green Leader Elizabeth May is in Toronto to talk about her partysa国际传媒檚 policy on post-secondary education at Ryerson University before heading to Montreal for an evening rally. Peoplesa国际传媒檚 Party leader Maxime Bernier is planning several small-scale appearances with candidates in southwestern Ontario.
Joanna Smith, The Canadian Press
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