NEWS RELEASES
GILBERT PARENT APPOINTED AMBASSADOR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
December 20, 2000 (10:00 a.m. EST) No. 273
GILBERT PARENT APPOINTED
AMBASSADOR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Environment Minister David
Anderson today announced the appointment of the Honourable Gilbert Parent,
as Ambassador for the Environment.
In keeping with Canada's strong leadership on international environmental and
sustainable development issues, the Ministers stated that the Ambassador for
the Environment would be called upon, as required, to represent the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs and the Environment at international environmental and
sustainable development meetings and negotiations. The Ministers said that Mr.
Parent would also devote considerable time to engaging the Canadian public,
NGOs, indigenous organizations, business groups, and provincial and territorial
governments on international environmental and sustainable development
issues. This will be particularly important as Canada prepares for the 2002
World Summit on Sustainable Development, marking the 10th anniversary of the
1992 Rio Earth Summit.
Canada is party to 56 international legally binding environmental agreements
and is also committed to 18 bilateral international co-operation arrangements.
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A biographical note is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Jennifer Sloan
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
Johanne Beaulieu
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Gilbert Parent was born in Mattawa, Ontario in 1935. He attended St. Joseph's
College in Indiana, where he received a Bachelor of Sciences, Niagara University
in New York, where he obtained a Master of Arts and the State University of New
York, where he earned a Master of Education. In 1995, St. Joseph's College and
Niagara University each awarded Mr. Parent an honorary Doctorate of Laws. In
1996, he was similarly honoured by Brock University.
A former educator and administrator, Mr. Parent taught at Notre Dame High
School in Welland and at Dennis Morris High School in St. Catharines. He was
also Vice-Principal of Thorold High School. He later served as Chairman of the
St. Catharines' Separate School Board.
Mr. Parent was first elected to the House of Commons in 1974 representing the
riding of St. Catharines. He was re-elected in 1979 and 1980 for the federal riding
of Welland, and elected in 1988 and again in 1993 for the riding of Welland-St.
Catharines-Thorold. In 1997, he was re-elected Member of Parliament for Niagara
Centre. He has served as Parliamentary Secretary to a number of Ministers,
including Veterans Affairs and Labour. He has also served as opposition critic in
various areas including youth, labour, international development and industry.
Mr. Parent has been active as member of a number of associations and
committees, and has represented Canada at the United Nations and at several
Congresses of the International Labour Organization. He was elected as Speaker
of the House of Commons on January 17, 1994 and re-elected to the position on
September 22, 1997.
As Speaker, Mr. Parent continued and expanded the "Greening of the Hill"
program begun by his predecessor, the Honourable John Fraser.
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