It's Time to Move the U.N. to Toronto

The United Nations turns 60 this week with several nasty clouds hovering overhead. The most threatening may be the growing animosity of its host country and creator, the United States.

It's no secret that the forces now triumphant in the U.S. are ideologically and politically opposed to the U.N. They see the U.N. as ineffectual, corrupt and obstructionist. Some believe the U.N. undermines the very sovereignty of the American nation. While these forces have long existed, they have gained currency and power in recent years to the point where they now jeopardize the very existence of the international organization.

It's also no secret that the U.N. has few better friends in the world than Canada. Thanks in large part to the legacy of Lester Pearson, Canadians generally support and advance the work, philosophy and principles of the world body. We have done so since the beginning. We will continue to do so into the future.

Here then is a modest suggestion aimed at restoring and ensuring the vitality of the U.N. for the next 60 years.

The U.N.'s General Assembly should immediately consider fleeing the barren ground of New York, where it is beset by enemies on every side, and relocating to a place where it will be valued and loved. There is no better place on earth for this hopeful body than Canada. And there may be no better place in Canada than Toronto. Other Canadian cities will have their own good cases to put forward, but Toronto has assets that would make it a nuturing home for the United Nations.

Toronto is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world. Over the years, it has learned to value and respect cultural diversity, and to hear the aspirations of other nations. It understands the psychological struggle against colonialism, and it is sensitive to the challenges of living in the shadows of more powerful neighbours. Above all, its institutions are outward-looking, internationalist and global-minded.

For all its warts -- and it does have them -- Toronto is polite, respectful and worldly. It is a safe city and an animated city, despite recent concerns over gang violence and senseless shootings. And although it sometimes jails people in dubious circumstances, it has the good grace to anguish about it. Eventually, it always finds its moral compass and does the right thing.

Most important for the future of the U.N., civil debate on serious issues is still encouraged in Toronto. Its news media and political commentators may be accused of dullness, but, apart from a few of the sporting fraternity, there are precious few of those screaming, ranting, knee-jerk bigots who clog the airwaves south of the border. And its political leaders generally don't make a vote-trolling meal out of trashing the citizens of other countries. (I know what you're going to say, but let's be honest here. Next to CNN, Fox, Pat Buchanan and Rush Limbaugh, Carolyn Parrish is a model of discretion.)

So there's my suggestion. The United Nations should celebrate its first 60 years by re-establishing itself in Toronto, a move that would help secure and strengthen its next 60 years. International co-operation would be reinvigorated, and the world's future would look much brighter than it does today.