Canada to Host the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol

OTTAWA, November 5, 2006 – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, is pleased to announce that Canada will host the 20th Anniversary Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol in 2007.

This will mark the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, which is widely recognized as the most successful international environmental agreement to date.

''Canada's New Government is pleased to celebrate the legacy of our country's commitment to this protocol," Minister Ambrose said. "Canada was the first country to ratify the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, among the first to sign and ratify the Montreal Protocol".

"Our government will be proud to host this historic 20th anniversary meeting in the city where this milestone agreement was born."

"Our Government has shown our commitment to the international community by recently committing almost $18 million to the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund, which assists developing countries in complying with the Montreal Protocol".

Canada continues to take a leadership role internationally. Our new environmental agenda means real results for Canadians through concrete reductions in air pollution and greenhouse gases to protect the health of Canadians and our environment.

For further information, please contact:

Robert Klager
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
1-888-908-8008