Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird: Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Harper, declined an invitation to address the UN General Assembly last week, sending Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird to represent Canada there instead, according to CTV. "He had the opportunity to speak and address the world at the UN General Assembly and he refused to do it," Dewar said, adding that he has "no idea" why Harper declined again, given that he was in New York City at the time and Critics say Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to skip the opening of United Nations General Assembly for a second-straight year hurts Canada's international reputation, while his defenders say the absence is "absolutely normal." NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar told 's Question period that Harper is conducting "empty-chair diplomacy." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.