 Just last month, I had the distinct pleasure of welcoming UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Canada. We met with some of my most senior ministers, as well as in private, to discuss issues of pressing importance to both the UN and to Canada. We talked about the importance of the Paris Agreement in combating climate change and creating a clean economy alongside our international partners. We discussed Canada's new, refocused approach for Iraq, Syria, and the broader region. Mr. Ban expressed his appreciation for the example Canada has set in resettling Syrian refugees and confronting the global migration and refugee crisis. We also touched on a subject that's very important to me – gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls around the world, and the essential leadership of men. In addition, I reiterated Canada's commitment to ensuring a successful World Humanitarian Summit in May. My wife Sophie and I were honoured to host a dinner for the UN Secretary-General at the end of his visit to Ottawa. There, I stated that Canada was looking forward to a renewed role at the United Nations in the years ahead. So today, I'm in New York to formally announce our intention to return to the UN Security Council table. Canada will actively pursue a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2021-2022 term. Now, it's one thing to say that we want to sit on the Security Council. Let me tell you why we want to be there. In recent years, the United Nations Security Council has been working closely with the UN Security Council on the UN Security Council for the 2021-2022 term. Now, it's one thing to say that we want to sit on the Security Council. Let me tell you why we want to be there. In recent months, Canada has demonstrated leadership on a number of important UN priorities. We've led on climate change. We've led on support for refugees. And we've led on our important role in the Middle East, including the promotion of security and stability, increasing humanitarian assistance, and support for building longer-term resilience. We have made it clear, both in domestic policy and in international fora, that respect for diversity, commitment to inclusion, and steadfast support for human rights are central to how we define ourselves as a country. These core values not only lend to greater equality among citizens, but also play a pivotal role in ensuring peace and security within and between nations. We are determined to revitalize Canada's historic role as a key contributor to United Nations' peacekeeping, in addition to advancing current reform efforts. And Canada will increase its engagement with peace operations, not just by making available our military, police, and specialized expertise, but also by supporting the civilian institutions and civil society that help prevent conflict, bring stability to fragile states, and help societies recover in the aftermath of crises. Protecting vulnerable populations, leading on the world stage, and engaging on some of this era's greatest challenges, this is the Canada of today. This is how we build the world of tomorrow. Canada has been a member of the United Nations since its creation in 1945. We have defended fundamental Canadian values, such as pluralism, gender equality, and the promotion of peace. Today, we express our great effort, our support for the work of the UN, in connection with the prevention of conflicts and disarmament, respect for human rights, and the health of mothers, newborns, and children. We have led initiatives in several fields, especially to end the precocious and forced marriage of children. Canada is also a member of the UN, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, the OACI, UNESCO's statistics institute, and the Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Not later than yesterday, Minister Haidou announced that Canada wanted to be elected by the Commission on Women's Conditions from 2017 to 2021. It is an additional opportunity for Canada to engage multilaterally, to support efforts aimed at improving women's situation across the world. In an effort to revitalize our ongoing commitment to the UN, the Government of Canada has engaged with many key leaders of the United Nations over the past few months. This includes the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, the Administrator of the UN Development Program and Chair of the UN Development Group, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, among others. Next week, we look forward to a visit from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Canada is ready, once again, to take a seat at the UN Security Council. Our last term concluded a decade and a half ago, in 2000. With a renewed commitment to international peace and security, now is the time for our return. Since 1945, Canadians have accomplished extraordinary things in support of the UN's mission to promote human rights, development, and peace and security around the world. We are determined to help the UN make even greater strides in support of its goals for all humanity. My friends, it's time. It's time for Canada to step up once again.