(No. 12 - January 11, 2011 - 1:05 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement offering Canada's condolences to those affected by the recent hostage taking in Niger:
"On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, I wish to offer my most sincere condolences to the families and friends of the two French citizens killed in the course of the hostage-taking incident in Niger. The hostage takers are responsible for this cowardly act that led to this tragic outcome.
"Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms all terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which seek to create and perpetuate insecurity in the Sahel countries of West Africa.
"Canada calls on all states in the region, as well as the international community, to redouble their efforts in combatting the scourge of terrorism, which undermines the safety of each and every one of us."
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Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
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Montreal, January 11, 2011 - Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney today marked the anniversary of Operation Stork with some of the families helped by this special initiative to unite Haitian children with their adoptive parents.
In the weeks following last year's devastating earthquake, Operation Stork brought 203 Haitian children to this country. "This was a truly monumental task," said Minister Kenney. "In just six weeks, Canadian and provincial officials processed as many adoptions from Haiti as are normally done in two years."
Of the 203 children, 152 have since become either permanent residents or citizens of Canada. CIC will continue to work with the parents of the remaining children until everyone's status is finalized.
The Minister took the opportunity to thank some of the partners who lent their help and support throughout Operation Stork.
"I would like to thank Air Canada and Air Transat, the Department of National Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, staff and officials at the Ottawa airport, the Red Cross and Salvation Army, the Ottawa Paramedic Service, the volunteer doctors and nurses from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and all the CIC and Canada Border Services Agency officials who helped staff the Canada Reception Centre at Hangar 11. This was truly a combined effort where everyone worked together, motivated by the same common goal."
CIC has also produced a video marking the anniversary. It is available on its website: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/multimedia/video/haiti/stork2.asp.
"The work is far from over in Haiti," said Minister Kenney, "and my department remains committed to helping to reunite families affected by this tragedy as quickly as possible."
As of December 31, 2010, CIC had reunited over 2,500 families since the earthquake. This is more than three times the number in 2009. It has approved over 3,600 permanent resident applications, and granted permission for temporary entry to over 3,000 Haitians affected by the tragedy.
For additional information, go to
www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/notice-haiti46.asp .
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Alykhan Velshi
Minister's Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
