NEWS RELEASES
CANADA-U.S. PACIFIC SALMON REPRESENTATIVESTO BEGIN WORK IMMEDIATELY
July 25, 1997 No. 122
CANADA-U.S. PACIFIC SALMON REPRESENTATIVES
TO BEGIN WORK IMMEDIATELY
Canadian and U.S. Special Representatives on Pacific salmon will begin work at
once on the dispute between Canada and the United States over the Pacific Salmon
Treaty, Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Fisheries and Oceans Minister
David Anderson announced today.
Dr. David Strangway, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of British
Columbia, and his U.S. counterpart, William Ruckelshaus, are charged with giving
new energy to negotiations aimed at implementing the Pacific Salmon Treaty's
conservation and equity principles.
"Dr. Strangway and Mr. Ruckelshaus will guide future talks among stakeholders in
British Columbia, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest," said Mr. Axworthy. "I am
confident that they can forge a new spirit of co-operation to resolve this very
difficult and vitally important issue. Minister Anderson and I look forward to
meeting with Dr. Strangway soon, and we will closely follow the work being done."
"Dr. Strangway is a prominent British Columbian who will work in the best
interests of B.C. and Canada," said Mr. Anderson. "It is important that he meet
with B.C. stakeholders and Premier Clark as soon as possible."
The Canadian and U.S. governments have also agreed to improve consultations
between fisheries officials to ensure early warning of problems for the 1997
fishing season and beyond.
The Special Representatives' authority comes from the Prime Minister of Canada and
the President of the United States. They have been asked to report to the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries and Oceans in Canada, and to the
Secretary of State in the United States, and to provide recommendations. Their
mandate is to reach a solution that makes a real difference before the 1998
fishing season. The representatives are expected to report on their progress
before the end of 1997.
Mr. Ruckelshaus is a former head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
is now a Seattle-based businessman.
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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
Athana Mentzelopoulos
Office of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
(613) 996-0076
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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