Well, folks – you can’t say I haven’t been calling this since Prime Minister Stephen Harper took office in 2006 – now the world is recognizing it.
“In the midst of all the domestic noise about Canada’s international reputation going down the toilet, there’s this: Later this month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be awarded the World Statesman of the Year award by a prominent New York foundation.
…”The Foundation believes that freedom, democracy and human rights are the fundamental values that give nations of the world their best hope for peace, security and shared prosperity.”
In a telephone interview with Yahoo! Canada News, Rabbi Schneier said Harper was chosen as this year’s ‘Statesman’ because of his international leadership for freedom, democracy and human rights.
“One specific issue, but not the only issue is [Canada's] establishment of the Office of Religious Freedom,” he said.
“But its much broader than that. He is standing up for democracy in the Baltic states and is also [taking] a significant role in the international scene. When you think of all the major meetings and visits that have taken place in Canada that is really a tribute to [him],” he said.
“I met him for the first time, last week and I must say he impressed me as a leader who knows where he is going with self-confidence and self-assurance and a great defender of democracy.”…
These aren’t your ‘Mickey Mouse’ made on your home computer awards. Others individuals to be celebrated at this year’s event include Vikram Pandit, CEO of Citigroup, and Virginia Rometty, president and CEO of IBM, who are both receiving the organization’s Appeal of Conscience award.
Previous recipients of the World Statesman of the Year include Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Jean Chretien received the award in 2002.
Whether left-leaning Canadians want to believe it or not, Prime Minister Stephen Harper — and for that matter, Canada — still has some champions abroad.”
Amen.
congradulations mr harper your doing a great job as PM and hope you keep it up. nice of you to show all those people out there that are on the left who said there embarrasssesd to be canadian. also shows the united nations that our human rites isn’t as bad. I know I would accept the statesman of the year award of the nobel piece prize consider it is a bunch of left wing think tanks who seem to be giving the prize out alot to left wing radical activists.