'Hurricane Bob' Ray says he has no regrets about leaving the United Nations

Rae said he sometimes tweets perspectives that might offer insights into the direction the government is "ultimately" taking. He argued that this is sometimes a useful way to gauge public reaction to policy changes before they occur.

 He said, "When Mr. Trudeau asked me to do this job, I think he knew what he was getting into. I think it became an interesting kind of dance."

 Rae said he is confident that his successor, former Justice Minister David Lametti, will advance the human rights issues and values-based policies that Canada has supported for years.

 He said he would be "very surprised" if Canada cancels its campaign for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Rae said everyone is waiting for Tuesday's federal budget to "clarify" Canada's foreign and security policy.

Foreign Minister Anita Anand's keynote address to the UN General Assembly in September emphasized security and economic resilience, and Rai said it also focused on human rights, gender equality, environmental protection, and Indigenous rights.

 Anand told the General Assembly that Canada does not abandon multilateralism even in difficult circumstances. Rai said that "in a world where there is such a lack of empathy, this is an important point."

 Rai said this lack became apparent during her tenure leading the UN Economic and Social Council, known as ECOSOC.

 Rai led the council until August. ECOSOC coordinates most UN agencies, including those responsible for refugee assistance, pandemic response, and global regulations on civil aviation and postal services.

 She said this experience deepened her view that the world still grapples with the legacy of colonialism, which has made it difficult for many countries to create functioning systems for their citizens.

 He said, "When you come to the United Nations, you quickly realize that we are still living in the shadow of the world that was built in the 18th and 19th centuries. This has been a painful experience for many countries."

He said that many countries around the world are still trying to find their footing in the face of climate disasters, geopolitical instability, and debt crises worsened by rising interest rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. He further said that hoarding of vaccines by rich countries did not help.

 He said, "This was a clear message from the Canadian people to the Canadian government. They said, 'We need vaccines and we want you to pay attention to us.' And I think this tension between self-respect and empathy is very real."

 "Advanced economies are facing populations that are entangled in their own circumstances. And that makes it difficult for Western governments to do as much as I think they should – including my own government."