2010: An International Year for Canada

January 03, 2010

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today highlighted Canada’s upcoming leadership of major international events in 2010, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as the G-8 and G-20 Summits.  Canada will also host the North American Leaders’ Summit.  
 
“The world will turn its gaze on Canada in 2010.  In February and March, we will be hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and in June, the G-8 and G-20 summits,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “We plan to use these two summits to continue playing a leadership role on issues of importance to Canadians.”
 
Canada will chair the G-8 Summit, which will be held in Ontario’s Muskoka region.  Immediately afterward, Canada will host the G-20 Summit, which will take place in Toronto.  The leaders of the world’s most industrialized countries gather annually at the G-8 summits to discuss a broad range of issues, such as fiscal and monetary policy coordination and international development.  Industrialized and leading emerging countries also meet regularly at G-20 meetings, which have become an important international forum to advance economic cooperation.  
 
“The G-8 and G-20 summits in 2010 are opportunities for Canada to contribute to discussions aimed at reaching a consensus on common global issues,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “They also provide unique opportunities for Canada to exercise its leadership on the world stage, while enabling it to promote Canadian values such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law.  We will also meet with our North American partners and our discussions will focus on the economy, energy and climate change, and security.”