Retired Maj.-Gen Lewis MacKenzie says Canada must play “hardball” with the United Nations, in order to keep Canadian troops safe during the .

In an interview with CTV’s Mercedes Stephenson, MacKenzie said that when Canada participated in peacekeeping during the Cold War, the UN put dangerous restrictions on the amount of equipment, weapons and ammunition that Canada could bring.

“We will not adhere to those restrictions anymore,” he said. “If we are going to somewhere dangerous … we will insist that we take the proper equipment, have the proper rules and mandate and it won’t be developed by the United Nations, it will be developed by us,” he advised.

MacKenzie said he’s “confident that the current leadership, the (defence) minister knows exactly what is required – he’s stated over and over that we will be properly equipped and properly mandated … that we will go properly prepared.”

However, MacKenzie doesn’t believe Canadians realize how dangerous so-called “peace operations” can be.

“In the Democratic Republic of Congo there are at least 11 factions fighting and at least some foreign armies fighting so you don’t even know who to deal with,” he said, referring to the African nation where the UN has authorized deployment of nearly 20,000 troops. “All you know is civilians are being threatened and you’re going to go in and help protect.”

In Mali, 105 UN peacekeepers have been killed since the mission began in April 2013.

Countries where Canada might contribute troops include Mali, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia, according to the retired general.

He called it brilliant “from a strategic media point of view” that the Liberals did not say Friday where Canadian troops will be deployed.

“Because if they had have mentioned during the briefing where our troops were going… immediately the conversation and folks like you would focus in on that location and the problems and challenges.”

Canada will send up to 600 troops for UN peace operations and spend $450 million over three years on peace and stability programs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday, alongside Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion and International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.

"We will now have important decisions to take around where and how those Canadian forces and resources are deployed," Trudeau said. "That will be in conversation and concert with the United Nations, but also with friends and allies around the world as we look at how Canada can best help and contribute."

The announcement comes weeks before Trudeau will address the UN General Assembly.

Canada is currently seeking a UN Security Council seat – which the Conservatives say is the real reason for Friday’s annoucment.

Asked about a link between peacekeeping and the seat, Dion said "the only link is that Canada is back.”

“We need to be in peace operations, as difficult as this may be,” Dion added. “We need to be back in the United Nations."

With files from The Canadian Press