OTTAWA – New Democrats are calling on the Harper government to end its opposition to global efforts to recognize access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as basic human rights.

“There was a time when Canada was a world leader for human rights, but it’s now standing in the way of progress” said New Democrat Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre). “Access to safe drinking water is a major step in relieving human suffering, particularly for the two billion people living in the water-stressed regions of the planet”.

Along with halting progress on efforts to recognize the right to clean drinking water, in recent weeks the government has tried to block debt relief to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and stalled the establishment of the UN Women’s Agency. The government’s lack of action on combating HIV-AIDS was roundly criticized at a major international conference in Vienna.

“People around the world are wondering what has gotten into Canada” said Dewar. “It’s time for a new direction, beginning with the vote on the right to water motion at the UN”.