OTTAWA, November 15, 2007 – The Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) (Sport), today announced that Canada successfully secured an extension to the agreement that would maintain the headquarters of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montréal for an additional ten years.
“Canada has supported the World Anti-Doping Agency since its inception and the important leadership role it plays in harmonizing the fight against doping around the world,” said Secretary of State Guergis. “The Government of Canada is dedicated to protecting the integrity and the spirit of sport. Keeping the WADA headquarters in Montréal will ensure that Canada continues to play a leading role in ensuring athletes world-wide and at all levels can compete on a fair and level playing field.”
WADA is an independent international agency that the International Olympic Committee and governments established jointly in 1999 to promote ethical conduct and harmonize the global fight against doping in sport. The current agreement with WADA expires in 2011 and will now be extended until 2021.
“In renewing its portion of the contribution for the WADA headquarters, the Government of Canada acknowledges the importance of this organization’s mission and the scope of its action. This $10 million in funding from Canada Economic Development will allow WADA to maintain its headquarters in Montréal until 2021,” said the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
“The benefits of hosting the Agency in Montréal include enhanced international prestige, economic benefits due to operations, the creation of jobs, greater numbers of visitors during and around international meetings, and the creation of a synergy between the Agency and local universities and other institutions,” said Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services. “By ensuring WADA’s presence in Montréal for ten more years, our Government is yet again taking concrete action for the city.”
“Ongoing collaboration with the federal government and the Government of Quebec plays an important role in providing WADA headquarters with stability for the future,” said WADA President Richard W. Pound. “We are pleased to reconfirm our mutual commitment and are grateful for the continued support of WADA and the global fight against doping in sport.”
Canada’s financial commitment to WADA headquarters is two-fold: the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec contributes approximately $1 million per year, while the Province of Quebec, through the Ministère des relations internationales du Québec, contributes approximately $500,000 per year. These contributions are managed by Montréal International, an organization mandated to sustain and promote the international development of the Montréal region and to attract international organizations to the area.
The Government of Canada, through the Department of Canadian Heritage, also provided $968,000 in 2006–2007 as Canada’s contribution to WADA’s annual operating budget. Government contributions to WADA’s annual budget are matched equally by the Olympic Movement.
Canada remains a leader in the worldwide fight against doping in sport and is committed to working with WADA, through the UNESCO Convention, and with other nations and stakeholders around the world to advance the values of fair and ethical sport including doping-free sport.
Information:
Jeffrey Kroeker
Director of Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
Office of the Secretary of State
(Foreign Affairs and International Trade) (Sport)
613 995-1293
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
Yan Plante
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
819-953-5646
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Michael M Fortier
819-868-1128
