Prime Minister backs Moncton's bid track event

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that his Government will support Moncton’s bid for the 2008 World Junior Track and Field Championships. Expressing confidence that Moncton will be named the host of the event next week, Prime Minister Harper pledged to allocate $6 million in ACOA funds to help build a proposed stadium if the city’s bid is successful.

Joined by New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord, the Prime Minister praised Canada’s amateur athletes noting their recent success. “As Canada’s recent record-shattering performance demonstrated at the Winter Olympics shows, this country can compete with the best,” he said.

The Prime Minister went on to say that Moncton would be an excellent location for the games and the values they embody. “Every year amateur athletes display the Canadian values of hard work, competition, and fair play in communities through this country. The Premier and I believe that Moncton would be the ideal community to showcase these laudable Canadian values to the world,” he said.

Prime Minister Harper also took a moment to thank Premier Lord for his work on behalf on New Brunswick, saying he looks forward to further collaborations aimed at strengthening the province. “I look forward to continuing to work with him in fulfilling his vision for this province now and in the future,” the Prime Minister concluded.

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Prime Minister Harper supports Moncton's bid. Download the .mp3 file (2,5 MB) - Bilingual version