OTTAWA, March 29, 2005 -- Thirty-six high-profile Canadians will participate in a National Advisory Committee to shape the direction of Canada's preparations to host the UN-HABITAT World Urban Forum in Vancouver in 2006. The Committee will be chaired by the Honourable Michael Harcourt and Ms. Huguette Labelle and will include representatives from the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec, Canada's Aboriginal peoples, labour as well as private, public, municipal and NGO sectors. "The committee will allow creative and passionate people from across Canada to voice their ideas and come together to plan a highly effective and successful event" said Minister Fontana.The National Advisory Committee was created to provide advice and support to Minister Fontana, the Government of Canada's lead Minister responsible for the preparation of the World Urban Forum (WUF). The Committee will input to Canada's recommendations to UN-HABITAT on themes, program content, and events to support the Forum."Vancouver is the place where the United Nations will be looking at the future of cities," said the Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing. "As host of the World Urban Forum, Canada will showcase its' successes and influence the direction of international dialogue and action on sustainability, human settlements and issues of rapid urbanization."The World Urban Forum was first launched by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) in 2002 and was recently held in Barcelona, Spain. The Forum, a biennial event, is becoming a key international event devoted to sharing information on the critical issues of cities and communities, shelter, sustainability, and other issues related to globalization and urbanization.The World Urban Forum will be held from June 19 - 23, 2006 in Vancouver and is expected to attract over 6,000 delegates from over 150 countries including representatives from least developed countries.The World Urban Forum in 2006 will also mark the 30th anniversary of the first UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat I) which was held in Vancouver in 1976. Habitat I raised international awareness of the importance of human settlement development and sustainability and led to the creation of the Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) by the United Nations General Assembly. UN-HABITAT is devoted to promoting socially and environmentally sustainable cities and communities, with a goal of providing adequate shelter for all.For further information, please contact:Grace ThrasherCMHC(613) 748-2375Peter Graham,Director of CommunicationsOffice of Minister Fontana(819) 953-5646National Advisory Committee to Minister Fontana for Canada's preparations for the World Urban Forum Vancouver, Canada June 19 - 23, 2006The Honourable Michael HarcourtCo-chair National Advisory CommitteeMadame Huguette LabelleCo-chair National Advisory CommitteeMs. Louise ComeauFuel Cells CanadaMr. Bob ShawThe Shaw GroupDr. Milton K. WongHSBC (Canada) LimitedMr. Ron ShishidoCanadian Institute of PlannersMs. Marnie TamakiRepresenting Women's GroupsMs. Zuhy SayeedCanadian Association of Community LivingMr. Jean-Guy SoulièreCongress of National Seniors' OrganizationsMs. Joyce PotterCanadian Housing and Renewal AssociationMs. Mary LawsonCanadian Home Builders' AssociationMr. Hugh PorteousAlcan Inc.Mr. Normand MorinSNC-Lavalin Group Inc.Mr. Ken CameronProvince of British ColumbiaCouncillor Jim GreenCity of VancouverMr. Johnny CarlineGreater Vancouver Regional DistrictMr. Ken GeorgettiCanadian Labour CongressMr. Jose KusugakInuit Tapiriit KanatamiMr. Dwight A. DoreyMr. René DaoustCo-operative Housing Federation of CanadaMr. Barry PinskyRooftops CanadaThe Honourable David CrombieCanadian Urban InstituteMr. Michael ShapcottNational Housing and Homelessness NetworkMs. Nola-Kate SeymoarInternational Centre for Sustainable CitiesMr. David HughesHabitat for Humanity CanadaMs. Ardath Paxton MannVancouver Working GroupMr. Pierre BeauchampCanadian Real Estate AssociationMs. Nancy GordonUnited Nations Association in CanadaMs. Beverly JacobsNative Women's Association of CanadaMr. David ChartrandMétis National CouncilAssembly of First NationsConfirming Official representation nameMayor Yves DucharmeFederation of Canadian MunicipalitiesMadame Hélène AubéProvince of QuébecMr. Doug RaganEnvironmental Youth AllianceMr. Yves MorencyFédération des caisses Desjardins du QuébecMs. Alberta G. CefisScotiabank
