NEWS RELEASES
CANADA SUPPORTS MONTREAL'S BID FOR INTERNATIONAL DESERTIFICATION SECRETARIAT
June 14, 1996 No. 112
CANADA SUPPORTS MONTREAL'S BID FOR INTERNATIONAL
DESERTIFICATION SECRETARIAT
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Minister for International Co-operation
and Minister Responsible for la Francophonie Pierre S. Pettigrew and Secretary of
State for the Federal Office of Regional Development (Quebec) Martin Cauchon today
announced federal government support for the City of Montreal's bid to host the
Permanent Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
"The Secretariat is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the City of
Montreal and increased international prestige to Canada," said Mr. Pettigrew.
"The Government of Canada will work closely with the Government of Quebec, the
City of Montreal and the Montreal International Conference Centre Corporation to
mount a strong campaign, similar to the successful bid for the Permanent
Secretariat on Biodiversity."
In less than five years, Montreal has become a major location for international
organizations involved in protecting the environment. These include the
Secretariat of the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Ozone Protocol, the North
American Commission for Environmental Co-operation (a North American Free Trade
Agreement institution), the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on
Biological Diversity (which was officially inaugurated on May 6), the Montreal
office of the World Conservation Union, the Network of Expertise for the Global
Environment and the International Water Secretariat.
"Canada is a world leader on environment issues, and Montreal has gained an
enviable reputation as an ideal location for international organizations in this
field," said Mr. Axworthy. "Montreal will therefore be a strong contender for the
Desertification Secretariat."
The federal government has pledged $4 million over a five-year period to the
Desertification Secretariat, should Montreal be chosen as its site. The
Government of Quebec will donate $1.25 million and is also willing to provide a
loan of services valued at $1.05 million. The City of Montreal has offered a
contribution of $280 000 over five years, and the Montreal International
Conference Centre will give an in-kind contribution valued at $700 000.
"Our support for this project is consistent with the federal government's
contribution to the development of Montreal's economy," said Mr. Cauchon.
Canada played an active role in the negotiations leading to the Desertification
Convention, and was among the first countries to ratify it in December 1995.
Under the Convention, developing and developed countries have agreed to work
together to fight desertification, which is a worldwide problem affecting about
one-sixth of the world's people in almost 100 countries. If left unchecked, it
could lead to crop failure, scarcity of fuel wood and grazing lands, loss of
biodiversity, social strife and mass migrations. Canada's support for the
Convention reflects the Government's priority to address global and regional
environmental issues. It also complements the Canadian International Development
Agency's backing over almost 20 years for innovative approaches to desertification
control in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
World Day to Combat Desertification is being celebrated on June 17. The Canadian
International Development Agency will mark the occasion by hosting a forum on the
Desertification Convention, entitled "The Road from Conception to Implementation."
Panelists include M.P. Clifford Lincoln and Pierre-Marc Johnson, both of whom are
environment and development experts, and Friederike Knabe of Solidarité Canada
Sahel/USC Canada. The forum will be held on June 17, 9:30a.m.-12:00p.m., in the
Pontiac Room, 140 promenade du Portage, Phase IV, Hull.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 1996 federal budget and
is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency
(819) 953-6534
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