Hedy Fry Opens Canada-Wide Consultations to Prepare for World Conference Against Racism
EDMONTON, September 5, 2000 -- The Honourable Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women) today opened a series of regional consultations to help shape the positions and priorities Canada will take to the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance to be hosted by South Africa in the fall of 2001."My hope is that these discussions will reflect the Canadian Way of equality, respect for diversity, individual dignity and responsibility," said Dr. Fry. "Our experience in Canada must guide us in our efforts to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The World Conference is a key opportunity for us, as Canadians, to contribute to the ongoing process of securing peace and human security on the international stage."
The consultations, which are taking place in seven locations across Canada, will tap into the ideas and opinions of the broadest possible spectrum of Canadian society. Participants include Aboriginal leaders and youth, ethnocultural and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), labour, business, academia, the professions, race-relations groups, and urban and rural communities.
In recognition of the history, identity and culture of Canada's Aboriginal peoples, the Inuit, Métis, and First Nations are being offered the opportunity to establish their own process of consultation.
The current consultations build upon two previous national roundtable discussions by responding to recommendations by participants that NGOs be involved as partners in Canadian preparations for the World Conference. Today also marks Dr. Fry's announcement of the formation of the Advisory Committee to the Canadian Secretariat -World Conference Against Racism.
This committee consists of twenty members representing the full range of civil society and Aboriginal peoples. By offering advice on the planning and implementation of national consultations, the committee will support the Canadian Secretariat in information dissemination, and facilitate civil society preparations for the World Conference and participation at the parallel Forum for NGOs in South Africa. It will also recommend a process for selecting funded delegates to the World Conference and parallel Forum.
"This partnership with the Advisory Committee will bring an additional element of cooperation to our anti-racism strategy and reconfirms the government's commitment to engaging Canadians as active participants in building our action plan. Real involvement from all our communities is mandatory for successful outcomes as we lead up to -and go beyond -the UN World Conference," said Dr. Fry.
Committee member Keiko Miki, President of the National Association of Japanese Canadians, said she is looking forward to being part of Canada's preparations for the international Conference.
"Our country stands for respect and opportunity for all people. It is an honour to contribute my time and energy to a project that will have beneficial and lasting effects both here and around the world."
The cross-country consultations began today in Edmonton. The other meetings will take place in Vancouver (September 8-9), Winnipeg (September 11-12), Halifax (September 22-23), Toronto (September 24-25) Montreal (October 20-21) and Iqaluit (in October).
Dr. Fry today also released an important discussion paper that will inform participants about the consultations and support the domestic dialogue. It describes Canada's approach to the World Conference and sets out the issues to be discussed in a Canadian context for each of the five World Conference themes. This work-in-progress will be updated to reflect the input received in the course of the regional consultations. It is available on the Web site at www.pch.gc.ca.
Information:
Thoren Hudyma
Office of the Secretary of State
(Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
(819) 997-9900
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