UNITED NATIONS — The climate change summit was not the only meeting at the United Nations that Prime Minister Stephen Harper snubbed.

At least the Conservative government leader sent Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq to speak in his place on climate change.

He dispatched three other ministers too to other international meetings in New York as part of the annual week-long United Nations gathering.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird went to the global counterterrorism forum ministerial meeting. (He pledged Canada would provide $1.5 million to counter violent extremism in the Middle East through the United Arab Emirates-based Hedayah Centre and an international fund.) International Development Minister Christian Paradis made two appearances, at a UNICEF team event and at a world school forum.

Minister of state for foreign affairs (consular services) Lynne Yelich addressed a special session of the UN general assembly on population and development.

But Harper sent a public servant — Deputy Minister Colleen Swords, who just took on the aboriginal affairs file in July — to stand for Canada at the first World Conference on Indigenous Peoples that was held here.

Its goal was to focus on steps to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Matthew Coon Come, Grand Chief of the Crees, said he was “embarrassed” by Canada’s lack of presence at that forum, and at Harper’s absence at the climate change meetings.

“To be seen as a leader of the world, you have to be present.”

“Here we have the world conference on indigenous peoples; the minister did not even go to that, they only sent a deputy minister, that’s very disappointing. It speaks volumes to indigenous community and the international community.”

Coon Come said Canada is “losing credibility.”

Harper was to personally attend a dinner meeting of about two dozen leaders hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, but Coon Come said showing up at the formal meetings counts more.

“I think that if you want to be a world leader that you should be able to be here at a conference, and not just follow what other leaders are doing. I think you should be able to come here, set your own agenda, and be able to take the lead. Canada’s not leading here, just following what everybody else is doing. If there’s a function, if there’s a reception that they’ll go. That achieves nothing.”

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