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2010 Nobel Prize Recipient |
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December 10, 2010 -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement congratulating this year’s Nobel Prize recipients, including detained Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo:
“For more than a century, the prestigious Nobel Prizes have been given annually to individuals and organizations who make outstanding contributions in chemistry, physics, literature, peace, economics and medicine.
“I would like to congratulate the remarkable individuals from around the world who are being honoured with their Nobel prizes today.
“In particular, I would like to congratulate Liu Xiaobo of China for winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Mr. Liu shares Canada’s commitment to peace, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law - and should be free to express his views.
“While Canada values its strong relationship with China, we will continue to stand up for those denied basic human rights and the freedom of expression.
“This year’s Nobel laureates include: U.S. scientist Richard F. Heck and Japanese scientists Ei-ichi Negishi and Akira Suzuki for chemistry; British biologist Robert G. Edwards in medicine; Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov for physics; Mario Vargas Llosa for literature; and Peter A. Diamond, Dale T. Mortensen and Christopher A. Pissarides in economics.” |
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National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women |
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December 5, 2010 -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women on December 6:
“On December 6, 1989, the lives of 14 young women were cut short in one of the most heinous acts of violence in Canadian history. They were daughters, sisters, wives and friends whose lives were full of promise and hope, horrifically taken by a gunman at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal.
“That these women were gunned down for no other reason than their gender is as incomprehensible now as it was in 1989. While we cannot, and probably never will, be able to make sense of the events of that day, we can work to ensure that it never happens again.
“Today, let us remember Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte. And let us pay tribute to their memory in the best way that we can: by working to eliminate violence against women while making our communities safer for all Canadians." |
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PM Highlights Success of E.A.P. |
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December 2, 2010 -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper today highlighted the success of Canada’s Economic Action plan in creating jobs and economic growth during the global recession. The Prime Minister was joined at the announcement by Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; and Tony Clement, Minister of Industry.
“Canada’s Economic Action Plan is working,” said Prime Minister Harper. “Our Government expects that nearly 90 per cent of infrastructure projects will be done by the ambitious deadline that we set out.”
Since July 2009, more than 420,000 net new jobs have been created across Canada and about 23,000 projects are underway or completed. The Government has provided $16 billion to modernize public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water, parks, transit and recreational facilities.
While the vast majority of infrastructure projects are expected to be completed by the ambitious two-year deadline (March 31, 2011) set out by the Government, a small percentage of projects have been delayed for a variety of reasons.
“Today, we have extended the deadline for completion of Economic Action Plan infrastructure projects by one full construction season, to October 31, 2011,” said the Prime Minister. “This will allow sufficient time for completion of the remaining projects.”
The one-time extension is expected to allow sufficient time for virtually all the remaining projects to be completed, at no additional cost to the Federal Government. In order to qualify for this extension, work must have begun on the project and it must have incurred eligible costs before March 31, 2011. The extension applies to projects funded under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Building Canada Fund Communities Component Top-Up, the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program or the Knowledge Infrastructure Program. |
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Release of Aung San Suu Kyi |
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November 13, 2010 -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the release of Nobel peace laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi:
“I am pleased that Aung San Suu Kyi has finally been released from house arrest in Burma. She is an unwavering champion of peace, democracy and respect for human rights in Burma, despite being held in detention for 15 of the past 21 years.
“Neither her trial nor appeal process were conducted in line with international standards. She was not granted due process and should never have been detained.
“Canada has long supported Ms. Suu Kyi in her efforts to bring genuine democracy to Burma. In recognition of her struggle to promote fundamental freedoms and democratic principles, she was granted honourary Canadian citizenship by the Parliament of Canada in 2007.
“Canada stands resolutely with Burma’s democratic forces and like-minded members of the international community in the quest to restore civilian government to the Burmese people. We continue to call on the Burmese authorities to release all political prisoners and allow the meaningful political participation of all Burma’s opposition and ethnic groups.
“In December 2007, Canada imposed the toughest sanctions in the world against the Burmese regime to indicate its condemnation of the regime's complete disregard for human rights and its repression of the country's democratic movement. Those sanctions will remain in place.” |
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