May 10, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario

NEWS RELEASE

Prime Minister Paul Martin today made two important announcements at a luncheon address in Montreal, during which he outlined his government’s forward looking approach to foreign policy. These are the naming of the two co-chairpersons for Canada Corps and a major contribution to the World Health Organization's "3 by 5" initiative to combat AIDS.

The Prime Minister announced that astronaut Julie Payette and Gordon Smith, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Centre for Global Studies at the University of Victoria, will be the co-chairpersons of Canada Corps.

The Prime Minister first made the commitment to create Canada Corps in his reply to the February Speech from the Throne. Budget 2004 allocated $15 million over next two years to support the initiative, which will harness the energy and experience of Canadian experts, volunteers and young professionals to deliver international assistance in the areas of governance and institution building. The initiative will consolidate and increase the co-ordination of existing Canadian efforts and will also explore new partnerships with other levels of government and the private sector.

“Canada has long been recognized as a leading voice in the world for democracy, pluralism, human rights and the rule of law. Groups and individuals from across the country are already sharing their expertise in these areas with the world,” said the Prime Minister. “Canada Corps will bring new focus and energy to what is already being done, and more effectively match the skills and talents of Canadians – including youth - to help nurture democracy and the rule of law in fragile states in the future.”

Working with a new Canada Corps Secretariat to be based at Foreign Affairs Canada, the mandate of the two co-chairs will be to promote and participate in consultations with other federal departments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to further define the scope, participation and structure of Canada Corps. They will also contribute to the analysis of the consultative findings and participate in the development of a 3-5 year agenda for Canada Corps.

The Prime Minister also announced that Canada will contribute $100 million to the World Health Organization's "3 by 5" initiative. This ambitious and urgently needed program aims to get 3 million people suffering from AIDS in developing countries in treatment by the end of 2005.

The continued spread of this deadly disease is causing long-term damage to global efforts to reduce poverty and to foster sustainable development. Currently, six million people infected with HIV in the developing world need access to antriretroviral therapy to survive. Antiretroviral medicines can dramatically reduce death rates, prolong lives and improve quality of life, adding years of healthy life to an infected person. Allowing poorer nations to import generic version of patented antiretroviral drugs will help those in need.

“Canada is a leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS”, said the Prime Minister. We were the first country to introduce legislation to make low-cost high-quality drugs available to countries hard hit by AIDS and other health crises. Today, we are taking a no less bold step which will make us the leading contributor to this initiative. Simply put, if we don't address the AIDS pandemic urgently, other international development efforts are certain to fail.”

Canada has taken a multifaceted approach to its HIV/AIDS programming, incorporating support for treatment and care, prevention strategies, and strengthened health systems. Canada is also playing a leadership role in the global policy dialogue. In June, Canada will assume the 2004-2005 chairmanship of the governing body of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS is the main advocate for global action on the pandemic.

Funding for these initiatives was provided for in the February 2003 and March 2004 federal budgets and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Julie Payette

Ms. Payette is the Chief Astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency. As a technical assignment, she works as a CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator) at the Mission Control Center in Houston. She divides her time between these responsibilities and astronaut currency training.

Ms. Payette began her professional relationship with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in June 1992 when she was selected from a field of 5330 applicants to become one of four new astronauts. After reporting to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in August 1996, Ms. Payette completed initial astronaut training in April 1998 and was assigned to work on technical issues in robotics for the Astronaut Office.

Julie Payette flew on Space Shuttle Discovery from May 27 to June 6, 1999 as a crewmember of STS-96. Ms. Payette served as a mission specialist, was responsible for the Station systems and operated the Canadarm robotic arm on orbit. Ms. Payette became the first Canadian to participate in an International Space Station (ISS) assembly mission and to board the Space Station.

From September 1999 to December 2002, Ms. Payette worked as a test representative and crew liaison officer for the ISS Program in Europe and Russia, in support of crew interfaces and hardware testing activities.

Ms. Payette earned an International Baccalaureate (1982) at the United World College of the Atlantic in South Wales, UK, a Bachelor of Engineering - Electrical (1986) at McGill University, Montreal, and a Master of Applied Science - Computer Engineering (1990) at the University of Toronto. She also holds honourary degrees from nine Canadian universities. Ms. Payette has received a number of scholarships and special honours, including Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Pléiade de la francophonie (2001) and the National Order of Québec (2002).

Dr. Gordon Smith

Gordon Smith is the Director of the Centre for Global Studies, and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Victoria. Dr. Smith arrived at the University of Victoria in 1998 following a distinguished career as a Canadian diplomat, which included posts as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1994-1997, Ambassador to the European Union in Brussels from 1991-1994, and Ambassador to the Canadian Delegation to NATO, from 1985-1990.

He is the author (with Moisés Naím) of Altered States: Globalization, Sovereignty, and Governance (Ottawa: IDRC, 2000), and co-editor (with Daniel Wolfish) of Who is Afraid of the State? Canada in a World of Multiple Centres of Power (Toronto: University of
Toronto Press, 2001), as well as numerous book chapters and articles.

Since 1997, Dr. Smith has served as Chairman of Canada’s International Development Research Centre. He currently holds positions as Senior Fellow at the Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia, Executive Director of the Canadian Institute for Climate Studies, Chairman of the International Network on Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Fellow of the World Economic Forum, Commissioner of the Commission on Globalization, Senior Adviser to the Rector of The University for Peace in Costa Rica, and Board Director of the International Forum de Montréal. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from M.I.T.

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