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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