Charest to help Canada's UN Security Council bid
Canada has been campaigning for a spot for 3 years
The federal government has picked former Quebec premier Jean Charest to help Canada secure a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council.
A Global Affairs Canada official says Charest has already visited the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait in his new role as special envoy.
The special envoy job doesn't come with a salary but Charest is eligible to have his mission-related expenses covered.
Charest is close to Canada's ambassador to the UN, Marc-André Blanchard, who is helping coordinate Canadian efforts to win the prized security council seat.
Blanchard is a former president of the Quebec Liberal party.
He was also chair and chief executive officer at the law firm McCarthy Tétrault, at which Charest is a partner.
Canada hasn't had a seat on the security council since the country's last two-year term ended in 2000.