Conservatives further isolate Canada with withdrawal from UN Convention on Desertification

The Conservative government’s abrupt decision to pull out of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification further isolates Canada on the world stage.

“It’s an issue that affects the survival of thousands of people across the planet,” said New Democrat Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar. “We were the first to sign this protocol and now we’re the first and only country to withdraw. Today, the perception on the world stage is that Canada is no longer one of the good guys.”

The Convention, which combats desertification and drought, is the world’s only legally-binding international agreement to link environment and development to sustainable land management.

“It’s in Canada’s interest to be part of this protocol, because of the threat desertification and drought poses for many regions of the country, including the Prairies,” said New Democrat International Cooperation critic, Hélène Laverdière (Laurier–Sainte-Marie). The message the Conservatives are sending is clear: this government doesn’t care about the environment or what our international partners think of Canada.”