Canada vies for UN Security Council seat

Foreign AffairsMinister Lawrence Cannon spent Thanksgiving weekend campaigning at the United Nations on behalf of Canada, which is vying for a seat on theSecurity Council.

"It's a tight race," he told the CBC's David Common in New York City. "But nonetheless I think that at the end of the day Canada will prevail. I am confident."

Canada is competing with Germany and Portugal for one of two two-year seats on the council. The outcome will be known Tuesday when 192 UN ambassadors cast their votes in secret. Support from two-thirds of the countries in the General Assembly is required.

Germany is widely expected to take one seat on the first ballot, so Canada will likely go up against Portugal on a second ballot. Many nations promised their vote to Canada years ago but only for the first round, Common reported. After that, the jockeying begins.

"All bets are off for the second round, and that's when it could get very interesting," said Colin Keating, a former New Zealand diplomat.

Canada has been on the Security Council six times, roughly once a decade, since the 1940s. The country's last term ended in 2000.

The permanent members of the Security Council are the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China. The council also includes 10 non-permanent members.