The Prime Minister will meet with President Ollanta Humala Tasso in Lima, Peru on May 22. Discussions will focus on deepening the overall bilateral partnership, which includes economic cooperation, development cooperation, education and defence. Since the entry into force of the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement in 2009, Peru has continued to grow as a key market for Canada in the Americas. The country is Canada’s third-largest bilateral trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean after Mexico and Brazil, and the third largest destination for Canadian direct investment in South and Central America.

On May 22-23, Prime Minister Harper will attend the Pacific Alliance Leaders’ Summit in Cali, Colombia, where he will discuss issues of economic importance to the hemisphere, including trade and investment.

The Pacific Alliance is a grouping of four of Latin America’s fastest-growing economies: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. It was launched in April 2011 to facilitate the free movement of goods, services, capital and people among member countries, and to strengthen their trade and investment ties with Asia. Canada has bilateral free trade agreements with all the founding members of the Pacific Alliance. Canada became an observer to the Pacific Alliance in October 2012.

New support being provided under AIF will help BioVectra Inc. develop two generic drugs employing sustained-release delivery technology and Delivra Inc. to develop more effective topical creams to relieve joint pain and improve circulation. AIF support will also help Island Abbey Foods Ltd. research and develop ways to use innovative dehydrated honey to deliver a broad range of therapeutic products. All three companies are in Charlottetown.

Since its launch in 2001, the Atlantic Innovation Fund has been helping Atlantic Canadians compete in a global knowledge-based economy through the development and commercialization of new and innovative products and services. In Economic Action Plan 2010, the Government ensured that funding for the AIF would be permanent.

“Recently a number of tragic events have highlighted the serious effects cyberbullying is having on our youth,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “We have an obligation to help put an end to harmful online harassment and exploitation in all its forms, and today’s roundtable with victims’ families and experts will help inform what further actions need to be taken to combat cyberbullying.”

The Prime Minister was joined at the roundtable by Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety; Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre; Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection; Carol Todd, mother of Amanda Todd; Leah Parsons (spouse Jason Barnes also present) and Glen Canning (spouse Krista Canning also present), parents of Rehtaeh Parsons; Pam Murchison, mother of Jenna Bowers-Bryanton; Jo-Anne Landolt, aunt of Kimberly Proctor; Sharon Wood, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone; Sheldon Kennedy, Co-Founder of Respect Group Inc.; and, Dr. Wendy Craig, Professor of Psychology at Queen’s University and Scientific Co-Director of PREVNet.

The Harper Government supports a range of education, awareness, prevention and enforcement activities to combat bullying, including cyberbullying, to help keep our young people safe online. These include: working with provincial and territorial partners to identify best practices; reviewing the Criminal Code to address any gaps related to cyberbullying; and informing Canadians about online safety through GetCyberSafe.gc.ca.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a leader in helping youth address cyberbullying. The organization recently launched a new online resource NeedHelpNow.ca, designed to help Canadian youth deal with the negative consequences of the creation and distribution of sexual content online. The site offers tips on removing content, strategies for dealing with peers and guidance moving forward. 

While in New York, Prime Minister Harper will also participate in a roundtable with American business leaders.

Canada and the U.S. enjoy one of the closest and most prosperous relationships in the world, with bilateral trade surpassing US$742.4 billion in 2012, and more than US$2 billion worth of goods and services crossing the Canada-U.S. border every day.

Canada has unique relations with all the African countries being visited by the Governor General, including strong commercial and educational ties with Ghana, significant mutual investment with Botswana, and strong education and commercial ties with South Africa.

Africa remains a priority area for Canadian international development assistance. The continent is also a priority market for Canada as it is home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world, and offers tremendous opportunities in areas such as the extractive and infrastructure sectors.

“Our Government is positioning Canada as a global leader in the clean energy sector by supporting innovative projects across the country aimed at producing and using energy in a cleaner and more efficient way,” said the Prime Minister. “The research and development generated by the projects being announced today will also maintain and create jobs, while benefitting the environment.” 

Of the 55 projects receiving support, 15 will be pre-commercialisation demonstration projects to test the feasibility of various technologies, and 40 will be research and development projects to address knowledge gaps and bring technologies from the conceptual stage to the ready-to-be-tested stage of development. The projects will be undertaken in seven provinces and two territories and will focus on research in the following areas: energy efficiency; clean electricity and renewables; bioenergy; electrification of transportation; and, unconventional oil and gas. 

The Prime Minister met with representatives of several of the companies receiving funding, including CO₂ Solutions and AddÉnergie Technologies, both based in Quebec City. CO₂ Solutions is receiving funding to support the research and development of an innovative method to more efficiently capture carbon dioxide in the oil sands, and AddÉnergie is receiving support for the development of its electrical vehicle charging infrastructure. 

The Report reflects on the significant changes that have unfolded in the Public Service and the world since the publication of the First Annual Report to the Prime Minister in 1992.  Over the past year, the Public Service has delivered on the government’s agenda and continued to find more efficient and effective ways of doing business, while managing personnel changes in a sensible and respectful manner. 

“The Clerk’s Annual Report provides a snapshot of the great work of public servants serving Canadians and efforts to improve the operation of the government”, said Prime Minister Harper.  “I am looking forward to working closely with the Public Service as it continues to position itself to meet the needs of Canadians in the future”.

The Clerk’s Report provides an overview of the many accomplishments of the Public Service over the past year.  Among other priorities, the Public Service sought to improve the responsible development of natural resources, modernize the immigration system, secure the retirement income system for Canadians, reduce red tape for Canadian job-creators, renew border infrastructure, and strengthen Canada’s trade with a broad range of international partners. 

The Report articulates the Clerk’s priorities for 2013 and beyond.  These include: a greater focus on productivity; embracing enterprise approaches to reduce duplication, streamline processes, and leverage economies of scale; and working collaboratively with internal and external partners and citizens to develop creative and workable policy and program solutions.  More broadly, the Report invites public servants to participate in a dialogue to shape the vision for the future of the public service, and to develop a plan to make this vision a reality. 

The Prime Minister thanked the Clerk for this Report and his enduring commitment to excellence in serving Canadians.  

The Report is available on the Clerk’s website (www.clerk.gc.ca).

The Agreement will come into force once both parties complete their respective domestic ratification processes.  There are significant Canadian investment opportunities in Nigeria, including in the extractive, information and communications technology, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.

Nigeria is Canada’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2006, annual bilateral trade between the two countries has more than doubled, reaching $2.3 billion by 2012. In 2011, Canadian direct investment in Nigeria totalled $36 million and is expected to grow as a result of this FIPA. 

Canada and the Netherlands enjoy excellent relations based on a long-standing history of cooperation and deep and significant people to people ties, with over one million people living in Canada with Dutch ancestry. Notably, Canada was home to the Dutch royal family in exile during the German occupation of the Netherlands in the Second World War. During that time, Queen Beatrix’s sister Princess Margriet was born in Ottawa. Furthermore, the First Canadian Army played the leading role in the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945. As a symbol of gratitude and the ongoing friendship between the two countries, the Netherlands sends 10,000 tulips every year to Ottawa.

His Excellency will take this opportunity to further affirm this strong bilateral relationship.

“Canada shares a strong, historic relationship with Trinidad and Tobago as members of the Commonwealth,” said Prime Minister Harper. “The initiatives announced today will help strengthen the ties between our countries as we work together towards a more prosperous and secure hemisphere.” 

Following a bilateral meeting, the two leaders announced: the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Canadian Commercial Corporation and the Ministry of National Security of Trinidad and Tobago; the signing of a MoU reinforcing Trinidad and Tobago’s longstanding membership in the Department of National Defence’s Military Training and Cooperation Program; the cross-accreditation of a Canadian Defence Attaché to Trinidad and Tobago, which will serve to further expand the defence links between the two countries; and the signing of a MoU between Brock University and the University of Trinidad and Tobago that will create opportunities for increased cooperation between students and academics. 

Ms. Grey is currently a professional speaker with the National Speakers Bureau. In this role, she addresses groups across Canada on leadership, balancing work and play, and relationship building.

In accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, Ms. Grey was sworn into the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada.

Established in 1984, SIRC provides an external review of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s performance of its duties and functions, and examines complaints by individuals or reports by ministers relating to security clearances and the national security of Canada.

This appointment is effective immediately.

Biographical notes attached.

Robert Fonberg, currently Deputy Minister of National Defence, becomes Special Advisor to the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, to examine the model of policy development in the Public Service, effective May 13, 2013.

Michel Coulombe, currently Deputy Director of Operations, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, becomes Interim Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, effective May 13, 2013.

Timothy Sargent, currently Acting Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations), Privy Council Office, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, effective April 29, 2013.

Simon Fothergill, currently Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Litigation, Justice Canada, becomes Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Legislation and House Planning, and Machinery of Government) and Counsel, Privy Council Office, effective April 29, 2013.

Jean-François Tremblay, currently Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Treaties and Aboriginal Government, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, becomes Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations), Privy Council Office, effective April 29, 2013.

Coleen Volk, currently Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Environment Canada, becomes Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Senior Personnel), Privy Council Office, effective April 29, 2013.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to congratulate Yvan Roy, former Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Legislation and House Planning, and Machinery of Government), and Counsel, on his appointment to the Federal Court.

The Prime Minister thanked Claude Carrière, former Associate Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, who has retired from the Public Service, for his significant achievements and service to Canadians during his 33-year career.

The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to thank Patricia Hassard, former Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Senior Personnel), Privy Council Office, who has retired from the Public Service after 30 years, for her contribution and dedication in pursuit of excellence in the public service.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to Brian Evans, former Special Advisor to the President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, former Chief Food Safety Officer and former Chief Veterinary Officer, who has retired from the Public Service, for his many distinguished accomplishments both within Canada and internationally over the course of his 31-year career.

Biographical notes attached.

Training in Canada is not sufficiently aligned to the skills employers need or to the jobs that are actually available. There are too many jobs that go unfilled in Canada because employers can’t find workers with the right skills. Meanwhile, there are still too many Canadians looking for work.

The Canada Job Grant will transform the way Canadians receive training. Canadians who have an offer for a new job or a better job may qualify for up to $15,000 or more to learn new skills to accept the new or better job, from a $5,000 maximum federal contribution and matching contributions from an employer and province or territory.

Today’s consultation in Brantford is the first of a series of consultations that will take place with stakeholder groups such as employer associations, educational institutions and labour organizations on the design of the Canada Job Grant.

The ceremony for Baroness Thatcher will take place at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The centre is the first of its kind in Southern Alberta. It provides a safe, child-friendly environment where a team of professionals from various disciplines work together to help victims of child abuse navigate the criminal justice system and heal from emotional and mental trauma.

“Our efforts to eliminate child abuse are being informed by brave people like Sheldon Kennedy, who had the courage to come forward with his own story, and who now works tirelessly to help prevent child abuse,” added the Prime Minister. “This centre is a fitting tribute to his efforts, his dedication, his drive and his depth of character.”

During Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s visit to Ottawa, the two leaders will discuss commercial ties and ways to advance trade negotiations between Canada and the Caribbean Community. Discussions will also focus on ways to expand academic cooperation, and collaboration within the Commonwealth and the Organization of American States. The visit will also serve to further Canada’s engagement in the Americas, a foreign policy priority since 2007. 

This is Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s first official visit to Canada; the leaders last met at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia in April 2012.  Her visit to Canada follows the Governor General’s state visit to Trinidad and Tobago in April-May, 2012.  

Canada and Trinidad and Tobago celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2012. This relationship is further strengthened by the valuable contribution to Canadian society made by Canadians of Trinbagonian descent.

“This Report contains valuable insights on how to modernize the employment model of Canada’s Public Service,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “I would like to thank the Advisory Committee for their recommendations, which will help guide us as we work to create a more modern, agile Public Service. We will be looking at the Committee’s advice very closely in the coming months.”

The Committee recommends an employment model that will: focus on optimizing performance at all levels; offer compensation that is fair and in line with the private sector; ensure employees are equipped with the technology to work effectively; and ensure that employees are engaged and empowered, and managers are given the authority they need. 

In addition, the report also recognizes the progress made over the past year towards streamlining and modernizing the Public Service.  It acknowledges the significant reductions in budgets and personnel that have been underway across government and sends a clear signal about the importance of sustained efforts toward transformation to respond to current challenges.

The Advisory Committee is composed of eminent Canadians and is co chaired by the Honourable Paul M. Tellier and the Honourable David Emerson.  It was created in 2006 to advise the Prime Minister and the Clerk of the Privy Council on the renewal and future development of the Public Service.

The seventh report is available on the Clerk’s website: http://www.clerk.gc.ca/seventh

Scott Tannas will fill a vacancy in Alberta following the retirement of Senator Bert Brown, who was appointed to the Senate in 2007 following a democratic consultation process in Alberta in 2004. Mr. Tannas was selected as a Senate nominee by Albertans in a consultation process on April 23, 2012.

Mr. Tannas has vowed to support the Government of Canada’s commitment to transforming the Senate into a more democratic and accountable institution, including legislation to limit the term lengths for senators and promoting democratic processes in the provinces and territories to select nominees for appointment to the Senate. 

“I look forward to working with Mr. Tannas in Parliament. His strong business background and deep knowledge of Alberta are sure to benefit the Senate,” added the Prime Minister. “I would also like to thank Senator Bert Brown, a champion of Senate reform, for his hard work and dedication to Albertans and all Canadians, and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

The Economic Action Plan is working for you. Find out more about the initiatives, programs and services that are included in the Economic Action Plan 2013. [More...]

Biographical notes are attached.

As head of the International Space Station, Commander Hadfield is responsible for maintaining the health and safety of the crew, and for keeping the space station productive and functioning properly.  Some of these duties include engineering, vehicle safety and the supervision of over 100 science experiments; many with the potential to enhance the quality of our lives here on Earth and further enhance the strength and expertise of the Canadian scientific community.

Commander Hadfield is no stranger to the vast expanse of space. He is the only Canadian to have boarded Mir, the Russian Space Station; the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in orbit; the first Canadian to perform a spacewalk—when he attached Canadarm2 to the ISS; and now, the first Canadian to Command the International Space Station.

Chris Hadfield became the first Canadian Commander of the ISS on March 13, 2013, taking the helm from U.S. Commander Kevin Ford (NASA). This is Commander Hadfield’s third mission to space.  He launched to the Station on December 19, 2012, and is scheduled to stay aboard until May 13, 2013, when he is due to return to Earth in a Russian Soyuz capsule.

“Canada and France are important friends and allies who share deep historic, cultural, linguistic and commercial ties and who co-operate closely on the world stage,” said the Prime Minister.  “The initiatives announced today will help increase the flow of people, scientific knowledge and commerce between our two great countries in the future and celebrate the joint sacrifices and accomplishments of our past.”

These agreements will serve to: facilitate travel between Canada and France for youth who are studying and travelling between the two countries; make it easier for people who have lived or worked in both Canada in France to claim benefits for the periods they were in the other country; and, foster various forms of collaboration and exchanges in scientific knowledge, including climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gases. Lastly, the Declaration on 20^th century conflicts helps pay tribute to the sacrifices and accomplishments that will forever unite Canada and France.

The two leaders also endorsed a Joint Statement recognizing the strong and diverse Canada-France relationship and discussed matters of shared interest, including the global economy, trade and investment, progress towards a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union, and international challenges such as the situation in Mali.

Devolution in the NWT will mean the transfer of decision-making and administration for land and resource management from the Government of Canada to the Government of the Northwest Territories. The territorial government will become responsible for the management of onshore lands and the issuance of rights and interests with respect to onshore minerals and oil and gas. It will also give them the power to collect and share in resource revenues generated in the territory. 

With the conclusion of negotiations today, the Government of Canada will now begin a second round of consultations to gather input from Aboriginal organizations in the NWT and other stakeholders, which will lead to a Final Devolution Agreement. 

The milestone announced today builds on the Agreement-in-Principle reached between the parties to the NWT Devolution process in January 2011.

Today’s announcement also follows through on the government’s commitment, set out in Canada’s Northern Strategy, to work with Northern and Aboriginal partners to build a strong and prosperous North.

Mr. Justice Chartier was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2006.  Prior thereto, he served as a judge of the Provincial Court from 1993 to 2006 and developed an expertise in criminal and family litigation.  As a member of that court, he served on the Management Committee and chaired both the Rules Committee and the Case Flow Management Committee.

Justice Chartier completed a Bachelor of Arts from the Université de Saint-Boniface in 1979 and a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Moncton in 1982. Following his call to the Bar of Manitoba in 1983, he practiced with Aikins MacAulay & Thorvaldson where his main areas of practice were corporate and commercial law.  During this period, he also served as Deputy Judge at the Stony Mountain Federal Penitentiary, Deputy Chief Commissioner for the Residential Tenancies Commission and Expropriation Inquiry Officer for the Province of Manitoba.

In 1998, Justice Chartier was asked to review French language services in Manitoba.  His report entitled “Above All, Common Sense” was tabled in the Legislative Assembly. In 2005, he received the Gold Medal for Innovative Management from the Canadian Institute of Public Administrators for his work on the Domestic Violence Front-End Project and in 2006, he received the United Nations Public Service Award for that same project. In 2012, he was appointed Chair of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Manitoba. Justice Chartier has also been actively involved in various community organizations including the St. Boniface Primary Health Care Centre, the Taché Centre, the Foyer Valade and was
Vice-Chair of the St. Boniface General Hospital. 

The Honourable Shane I. Perlmutter, a judge of Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba, is appointed Associate Chief Justice to replace the Honourable William J. Burnett who was appointed to the Manitoba Court of Appeal.

Mr. Justice Perlmutter was appointed to the Court of Queen’s Bench in 2011. Prior thereto, he practiced with Thompson Dorman Sweatman from 1996 to 2011 and with Fillmore Riley from 1995 to 1996.  His main areas of practice were civil litigation and administrative law.  He received a Bachelor of Arts from the Collège de Saint-Boniface in 1992, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 1995 and was admitted to the Bar of Manitoba in 1996.

Justice Perlmutter has been an active member of the Manitoba legal community including the Manitoba Bar Association where he served on several committees including Civil Litigation and Administrative Law.  He was an instructor at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law and a guest speaker and presenter at numerous seminars.  He served on the Committee formed by the Court of Queen’s Bench to consider amendments to the Rules on expedited actions.  He was also an active member in several community organizations.

These appointments take effect immediately.

The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages was created in 1970 under the Official Languages Act to support, enhance and strengthen Canada’s linguistic duality.  The Commissioner of Official Languages is an agent of Parliament responsible for the implementation of the Act, the protection of language rights of all Canadians and the promotion of the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society. 

As set out in the Official Languages Act, this appointment must be approved by resolution of the Senate and the House of Commons. In addition, pursuant to Standing Order 111.1 of the House of Commons, the Government has tabled this nomination for referral to the Standing Committee on Official Languages. The leaders of all recognized parties in the House of Commons and Senate were consulted in the nomination of Mr. Graham Fraser for reappointment as the Commissioner of Official Languages.

Biographical notes are attached.

Active in 19 countries, Premier Tech Ltd. lends its expertise to the development of peat-based products and growing media in three main sectors: horticulture and agriculture; manufacturing packaging and materials-handling equipment; and water treatment.

The repayable financial contribution given to Premier Tech Ltd. was granted under the Canada Economic Development’s Quebec Economic Development Program.and will be paid out over three years beginning in financial year 2012-13. This funding will enable Premier Tech Ltd. to develop and market some 60 new products from its four subsidiaries, while having a positive impact on the environment. All of this will generate major economic spinoffs in the Rivière-du-Loup area, as well as in the municipalities where the company is also present: La Pocatière, Joliette, Lachenaie, Drummondville and Pointe-Lebel.

This will be Prime Minister Ayrault’s first official visit to Canada since he took office in May 2012. The visit will provide an opportunity for both leaders to discuss matters of shared interest, including the global economy, trade and investment, progress towards a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union, and international matters such as the situation in Mali.

The French Prime Minister’s visit to Canada builds on the momentum established during Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s meeting with President François Hollande in Paris in June 2012, and on the margins of the Francophonie Summit in October 2012.

The Honourable Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay, as Associate Minister of National Defence, will support the Minister of National Defence on a variety of matters to fulfil the Government’s commitments to the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and to ensure that value-for-money principles remain at the core of national defence administration.

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue, has been appointed Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, will assume responsibility for La Francophonie.

“The Government remains focused on creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity across Canada, including in our Aboriginal communities,” said the Prime Minister. “Mr. Valcourt brings considerable and wide-ranging Cabinet experience to his new role and I am confident Ms. Findlay will contribute to the enhancement of our Armed Forces while delivering value for money to Canadian taxpayers.”

Participating in today’s meeting are Ray Ahenakew, Acting President of Saskatoon Indian Institute of Technology, Chief Darcy Bear of Whitecap Dakota First Nation, Chief Reginald Bellerose of Muskowekwan First Nation, Neil Sasakamoose, Chief Executive Officer for the Tribal Council, and Chief Clifford Tawpisin Jr. of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. This is one of several consultations the Prime Minister has been participating in throughout the country in order to engage Canadians in discussions about the economy and seek suggestions as to how to continue Canada’s recovery in a fragile global economy.

“It is my hope that by meeting with these leaders on economic development that together we can come up with some practical measures to help create jobs for Aboriginals and to encourage Aboriginal youth to reach their enormous potential through education, training and employment opportunities,” added the Prime Minister.

This initiative will expand the availability of defibrillators for many Canadians, as recreational arenas are a focal point for many communities throughout the country, particularly in rural regions.

Government of Canada support for this four-year initiative – which is being provided through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Automated External Defibrillators program – will allow the HSFC to coordinate the installation of, and training for, defibrillators. This initiative delivers on a commitment made by the Prime Minister in April 2011. 

Phase one of the initiative, currently underway, will assess the needs of 3,000 community hockey arenas in Canada and will result in an implementation plan. Phase two, beginning in spring 2013, includes providing the necessary training to attendants and will see the rollout and installation of the defibrillators, according to the plan.

According to the HSFC, up to 40,000 Canadians experience a sudden cardiac arrest each year and, on average, only about 5% of them survive. Access to early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation could potentially save the lives of thousands of Canadian children and adults each year.

Under Ambassador Bennett’s leadership, the Office – which is now operational – will promote freedom of religion or belief as a Canadian foreign policy priority. The Office will be an important vehicle through which Canada can advance fundamental Canadian values including freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide. 

“Our Government is dedicated to promoting the freedom and prosperity of the people it serves,” added the Prime Minister. We will work with other countries and all people of goodwill, to promote the principles we share.“ 

Specifically, the Office will focus on advocacy, analysis, policy development and programming relating to: protecting and advocating on behalf of religious minorities under threat; opposing religious hatred and intolerance; and, promoting Canadian values of pluralism and tolerance abroad. Activities will be centred on countries or situations where there is evidence of egregious violations of the right to freedom of religion, violations that could include violence, hatred and systemic discrimination.

For more information about the Office, please visit: www.international.gc.ca/religious_freedom-liberte_de_religion/index.aspx