Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be at the United Nations headquarters in New York City this week, where he is expected to press Canada's case for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council.
However, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says Harper has hurt Canada's chances of doing so by ignoring the UN for most of his time in office.
Harper will be addressing the UN for the first time in four years this Tuesday when he speaks at the Millennium Development Goals summit and the General Assembly.
"This is a government that for four years has basically ignored the United Nations and now is suddenly showing up saying, 'Hey, put us on the council,'" Ignatieff said Monday.
"Don't mistake me. I know how important it is for Canada to get a seat on the Security Council but Canadians have to ask a tough question: Has this government earned that place? We're not convinced it has."
The Canadian Press has learned Canada has Russia's vote for the two-year seat. However, other countries are moving towards rivals Germany and Portugal for the spot.
There is uncertainty whether Canada would get support from African countries.
Harper is looking to earn some support when he speaks about Canada's G8 campaign on maternal and child health in the Third World.
It has been a decade since Canada held a seat on the Security Council.
CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reports Canadian officials are confident they can win the vote because of Canadian contributions to the relief efforts in Haiti and the mission in Afghanistan.
The 192 UN ambassadors will vote on the seat on October 12 in a secret ballot.
Harper will be returning to Canada on Wednesday for the gun registry vote and then flying back to New York.
With files from The Canadian Press
