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Should the UN move out of New York?
They apparently turned down a Canadian offer (first article). Arguments in favour of a move are in the longer second article.
The United Nations recently turned down an invitation from the Canadian government to move its headquarters from New York to Montreal.
Montreal's La Presse reports a $2.2-billion proposal to bring the world body north was drawn up by public and private investors.
The UN plans to undertake an estimated $1.9 billion in renovations to its existing buildings in Manhattan.
The newspaper says government sources confirmed an "informal" project was presented to UN officials.
Montreal's La Presse reports a $2.2-billion proposal to bring the world body north was drawn up by public and private investors.
The UN plans to undertake an estimated $1.9 billion in renovations to its existing buildings in Manhattan.
The newspaper says government sources confirmed an "informal" project was presented to UN officials.
HENRY AUBIN, The Gazette
Published: Tuesday, October 23
Is it even remotely possible that the United Nations might move its headquarters from New York City to Montreal? Yes, according to a La Presse article over the weekend that said all three levels of government have quietly pitched the idea to the world body.
To be sure, the UN has done nothing to suggest it will leave Gotham. Its current plans are to renovate its various buildings, including its 55-year-old landmark - the glass-slab Secretariat. But work wouldn't start until next spring, so Montreal isn't giving up.
Quebec's minister responsible for the Montreal region, Raymond Bachand, said yesterday the chances of bringing the UN here were "between two and five per cent." The reason for not having publicized the proposal, which has been in the works for some time, was to avoid looking silly, he said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier addressed the UN General Assembly this month. If Mayor Gérald Tremblay and Quebec's minister for the Montreal region, Raymond Bachand, get their way, Canadian ministers won't have to travel so far to address the world body.
You can see his point. Some Montrealers are sputtering with mirth over the seemingly preposterous pitch. Yet the arguments for moving the UN are less absurd than the can't-do crowd might think.
Such a move would be in the UN's self-interest for a bunch of reasons.
Moving out of the United States would symbolically distance the UN from the world's megapower.
The UN could save money. Renovation costs are set at $1.9 billion. All three levels of government here would give enough financial aid to make it cheaper for the UN to build and operate a new complex here than to remain in New York.
Montreal would be safer. In New York, busy streets are close by the complex, and a UN spokesperson tells me the planned anti-terrorist measures consist mostly of keeping windows from shattering in blasts. The site designated for the UN would be in the Old Port - the Bickerdike Pier, Windmill Point and adjacent land that is well removed from tourists. The isolated zone could be fenced off.
The site would be spacious. Its 65 hectares make it nine times bigger than the New York property.
Language: Although the UN has six official languages, it has only two working languages - French and English. The UN would, thus, find Montreal to be a better linguistic fit than any almost other major city in the world.
The UN also would find a healthy world-affairs community implanted here already. The International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the World Anti-Doping Agency are among 60 international bodies with headquarters in the city.
Finally, UN people would like the city's low crime rate and high quality of life. As for the rude winters, climate change is making them less so.
For Montreal, a UN presence here would be like discovering oil. The body's headquarters now employs 4,800 well paid people. As well, each of the 192 member states has ample delegations. Innumerable other organizations also would flock here.
Note, too, that the UN would be good for political stability. In the event of a Yes vote in a future sovereignty referendum, Canada - as host nation - could hardly be better placed to argue against international recognition of Quebec.
At the same time, however, a UN presence could have a helpful effect on many nationalists' No. 1 concern - the long-term health of the French language. The presence of so many French-speakers from around the world would elevate the social status of the language across Canada.
Locally, the influx of people with high standards of spoken and written French could only boost the quality of the language here - a quality that many nationalists find to be in decline. The new arrivals also would press schools to improve teaching standards.
Until now, the only major plan either Mayor Gérald Tremblay or Premier Jean Charest has had to bring outside money into this city has been the failed new casino - an exploitive scheme that would have discredited the city. The UN idea is as uplifting as the gambling-mecca plan was debasing.
Even if this bid fails, our politicians are now on the right track. Their proposal positions Montreal as a city with
So, please, don't laugh at their idea. A city that doesn't think big will never do big things.
Published: Tuesday, October 23
Is it even remotely possible that the United Nations might move its headquarters from New York City to Montreal? Yes, according to a La Presse article over the weekend that said all three levels of government have quietly pitched the idea to the world body.
To be sure, the UN has done nothing to suggest it will leave Gotham. Its current plans are to renovate its various buildings, including its 55-year-old landmark - the glass-slab Secretariat. But work wouldn't start until next spring, so Montreal isn't giving up.
Quebec's minister responsible for the Montreal region, Raymond Bachand, said yesterday the chances of bringing the UN here were "between two and five per cent." The reason for not having publicized the proposal, which has been in the works for some time, was to avoid looking silly, he said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier addressed the UN General Assembly this month. If Mayor Gérald Tremblay and Quebec's minister for the Montreal region, Raymond Bachand, get their way, Canadian ministers won't have to travel so far to address the world body.
You can see his point. Some Montrealers are sputtering with mirth over the seemingly preposterous pitch. Yet the arguments for moving the UN are less absurd than the can't-do crowd might think.
Such a move would be in the UN's self-interest for a bunch of reasons.
Moving out of the United States would symbolically distance the UN from the world's megapower.
The UN could save money. Renovation costs are set at $1.9 billion. All three levels of government here would give enough financial aid to make it cheaper for the UN to build and operate a new complex here than to remain in New York.
Montreal would be safer. In New York, busy streets are close by the complex, and a UN spokesperson tells me the planned anti-terrorist measures consist mostly of keeping windows from shattering in blasts. The site designated for the UN would be in the Old Port - the Bickerdike Pier, Windmill Point and adjacent land that is well removed from tourists. The isolated zone could be fenced off.
The site would be spacious. Its 65 hectares make it nine times bigger than the New York property.
Language: Although the UN has six official languages, it has only two working languages - French and English. The UN would, thus, find Montreal to be a better linguistic fit than any almost other major city in the world.
The UN also would find a healthy world-affairs community implanted here already. The International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the World Anti-Doping Agency are among 60 international bodies with headquarters in the city.
Finally, UN people would like the city's low crime rate and high quality of life. As for the rude winters, climate change is making them less so.
For Montreal, a UN presence here would be like discovering oil. The body's headquarters now employs 4,800 well paid people. As well, each of the 192 member states has ample delegations. Innumerable other organizations also would flock here.
Note, too, that the UN would be good for political stability. In the event of a Yes vote in a future sovereignty referendum, Canada - as host nation - could hardly be better placed to argue against international recognition of Quebec.
At the same time, however, a UN presence could have a helpful effect on many nationalists' No. 1 concern - the long-term health of the French language. The presence of so many French-speakers from around the world would elevate the social status of the language across Canada.
Locally, the influx of people with high standards of spoken and written French could only boost the quality of the language here - a quality that many nationalists find to be in decline. The new arrivals also would press schools to improve teaching standards.
Until now, the only major plan either Mayor Gérald Tremblay or Premier Jean Charest has had to bring outside money into this city has been the failed new casino - an exploitive scheme that would have discredited the city. The UN idea is as uplifting as the gambling-mecca plan was debasing.
Even if this bid fails, our politicians are now on the right track. Their proposal positions Montreal as a city with
So, please, don't laugh at their idea. A city that doesn't think big will never do big things.
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