December 14, 2000
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today welcomed the announcement by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that Donald Johnston, P.C., Q.C., has been reappointed Secretary-General of the OECD, for a five-year term beginning June 1, 2001.

"Canada is proud of Mr. Johnston’s achievements as the first non-European and first Canadian to lead the Organization. Having guided the OECD through four challenging years of administrative and organizational reform he is the right person to provide vision for the future based on a renewed mandate," said the Prime Minister.

Since assuming his duties on June 1, 1996, Mr. Johnston has carried out an ambitious reform program to make the OECD more efficient, effective and responsive to member country needs. While cutting costs and streamlining the administration, he focussed attention on key policy issues, including negotiation of the Anti-Bribery Convention, groundbreaking work on electronic commerce, updated Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and a commitment to greater openness to civil society.

The OECD is the major economic policy forum for the world’s most industrialized democracies. Members consult on policy approaches on a wide range of economic, social and trade issues, including economic growth and employment, fiscal stability and the expansion of world trade.

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