NEWS RELEASES

February 16, 2005 (8:00 a.m. EST)

No. 31

DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew and Environment Minister Stéphane Dion today announced the appointment of Karen Kraft Sloan as Ambassador for the Environment.

The role of Ambassador for the Environment is pivotal to Canada’s continued strong presence on the international scene in matters pertaining to the environment and sustainable development.

As Ambassador for the Environment, Mrs. Kraft Sloan may head Canadian delegations to United Nations gatherings. The Ambassador meets regularly with relevant ministers, environmental and other non-governmental organizations on matters relating to sustainability, the environment and renewable energy. Ambassador Kraft Sloan will also hold discussions with industry representatives on environmental technologies, represent the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Environment at international conferences and visit sites such as wind farms, fuel-cell companies and water-treatment facilities.

The Ambassador, who reports to Cabinet, will reside in Canada. She succeeds Gilbert Parent, who, since 2000, has devoted considerable energy to this post and who served Canada’s ministers of Foreign Affairs and Environment with dedication and professionalism.

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A biographical note is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca

André Lamarre

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Environment

(819) 997-1441

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Karen Kraft Sloan (MES, York University, 1990; BAdmin, Brock University, 1982; BA Honours [Communications], University of Windsor, 1977). Following a career running her own strategic planning consulting business and teaching, Mrs. Kraft Sloan served as Member of Parliament for York-Simcoe from 1993 to 1997 and for York North from 1997 to 2004. She was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment from 1996 to 1998 and served as the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development from 1994 to 1996 and from 1998 to 2003. Mrs. Kraft Sloan succeeds Gilbert Parent.