<html>
<head>
<meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 10">
<meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<style>
p
{
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 1px
}
body
{
font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
font-size: 12pt;
font-weight: normal;
font-style: normal
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">June 1, 2006<br>
OTTAWA, Ontario<br>
2006/7<br>
</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="text-decoration: underline">CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER AND </span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">MINISTER OF THE ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY </span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">PETER MACKAY </span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">AT THE LAUNCH OF THE CONSULAR PUBLICATION <i></i></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><i>BON VOYAGE, BUT...</i></span></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p>As Minister of Foreign Affairs, my responsibilities include ensuring the availability of
first-rate consular services to Canadians abroad.</p>
<br>
<p>Consular work is complex and multidimensional. It ranges from emergency short-term
assistance to long-term management of difficult cases. But it is not just about assisting
Canadian travellers when problems occur. Consular work begins with
prevention—before problems arise—by helping our citizens prepare for safe and
successful journeys.</p>
<br>
<p>We Canadians are avid travellers. We wander the world. Last year, we made more than
43 million trips abroad. The profile of the Canadian traveller has radically changed in
recent years: Canadians of all ages and ethnic backgrounds now travel to all
imaginable places—often remote and exotic, and sometimes downright dangerous. No
matter how adventurous they may be, it is in their interest to minimize problems while
abroad and to maximize the success of their journeys. But to do so, they must take
responsibility.</p>
<br>
<p>As a frequent traveller myself, I have more than once realized the importance of being
well prepared before visiting a foreign country. A lack of preparation can lead to
problems, sometimes simple, sometimes complex. Some consular cases covered in the
media reflect that complexity. But the safety and security of Canadians abroad is
always this department’s first priority, and that is why we provide practical, up-to-date
information to our citizens—before they set foot out of Canada.</p>
<br>
<p>It is important that Canadians travelling abroad have access to the best, most timely
information possible from their government. For example, in light of last year’s
devastating hurricane season—not to mention this year’s, which we expect to be
equally severe—my department and the media should work together to ensure that
Canadians get the travel information they need.</p>
<br>
<p>You can help by telling Canadians where to find smart-travel information—namely at
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221025843/http://www.voyage.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.voyage.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000">—as well as by sharing key messages, such as official travel
warnings to keep away from unsafe parts of the world.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">We must work together. Your cooperation is vital. Let’s unite our efforts to let
Canadians know about the resources that are available to prepare them for a safe and
successful trip.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Today, we would also like to invite you to tour the Emergency Operations Centre. This
is a rare opportunity to see our consular services in action and to become familiar with
the tools and facilities we use to respond to the needs of Canadian travellers. In
addition, we will be pleased to provide you with a kit containing our quality publications,
including a fact sheet on hurricane season and a brand new edition of
<i>Bon Voyage, But …</i> our most important consular brochure and essential information
source. It’s a must for any Canadian planning a trip abroad.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">I also want to acknowledge the tireless efforts and dedication of our consular officers,
both at home and abroad. Our Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa is open 24
hours a day, seven days a week, to assist Canadians in need. Our officers abroad are
also available at all hours when a major catastrophe or tragedy strikes. I am proud of
the services they provide to Canadians in difficult circumstances and pleased to be their
minister.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Thank you very much.</span></p>
</body>
</html>
