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Prime Minister Announces Funding for Dialogue Centre as APEC Legacy
November 21, 1997
Vancouver, British Columbia
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that the Government of Canada will contribute $4 million towards the establishment of the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University, a state-of-the-art conference facility and the first of its kind in North America.
"I am pleased that this innovative facility - devoted to bringing people together to promote understanding - will be a permanent legacy of the Vancouver APEC conference," said the Prime Minister. "The vibrant Pacific identity that made Vancouver the natural choice for APEC'97 also makes it the perfect location for this exciting new project."
The Centre, located in the heart of Vancouver, will have a number of distinctive design and operational features. Among these are:
a unique in-the-round design that encourages discussion and consensus building;
innovative full audio-video technology, including built-in rear-screen projection, video teleconferencing and satellite up-link capabilities for instant communication world-wide; and
simultaneous translation in six languages.
The Centre's main conference hall will be named the "Asia Pacific Hall" in recognition of its being an APEC legacy. Funding and other assistance is also being provided by the private sector and local governments. The Centre is expected to be operational by the end of 1998.
Federal funding for this project was provided for in the 1997 Budget. It is, therefore, built into the existing fiscal framework.
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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
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