News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

---

Prime Minister announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service

May 5, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was pleased to announce today the following changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service, effective May 23, 2006:

Samy Watson, currently Deputy Minister of the Environment, becomes Special Advisor to the Privy Council Office, pending his next assignment.

Michael Horgan, currently Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, becomes Deputy Minister of the Environment.

Michael Wernick, currently Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations), becomes Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Margaret Biggs, currently Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning), Privy Council Office, becomes, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations), Privy Council Office.

Biographical notes attached.

* * * * *

SAMY WATSON

Date of Birth:
February 1958

Education:

Ph.D. (Leadership Studies), Andrews University, Michigan
B.A. (Political Science), Andrews University, Michigan
M.A. (Political Science), University of Toronto
M.P.A., Dalhousie University

Professional Experience

Since May 2004
Deputy Minister of the Environment

2000 - 2004
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

1997 - 2000
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations), Privy Council Office

1996 - 1997
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning), Privy Council Office

1995 - 1996
General Director, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1993 - 1995
Director, Personal Income Tax and Sales Tax Divisions, Tax Policy Branch,
Department of Finance

1992 - 1993
Director, Personal Income Tax, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1991 - 1992
Project Director, Indian Tax Policy Group, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1990 - 1991
Chief, Strategic Planning, Sales Tax Division, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

1987 - 1990
Policy Advisor to the Deputy Minister, Transport Canada

1982 - 1987
Various assignments and Senior Advisor positions at Transport Canada

1980 - 1982
Joined the Federal Public Service under the Administrative Trainee Program and subsequently assumed the position of Senior Project Manager, Revenue Canada, Customs and Excise

MICHAEL HORGAN

Date of Birth:
December 1955

Education:

Bachelor of Arts (Economics), Concordia University
Master (Economics), Queen=s University
Master (Economics), Princeton University, New Jersey, USA

Professional Experience

Since December 2003
Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

2001 - 2003
Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Finance

1999 - 2001
President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

1998 - 1999
Executive Vice-President and Associate Deputy Minister, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

1996 - 1998
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Intergovernmental Policy and Communications), Privy Council Office

1992 - 1996
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning), Privy Council Office

1991 - 1992
Director, International Economic Analysis Division, International Trade and Finance Branch, Department of Finance

1990 - 1991
Director, Economic and Policy Analysis, Environment Canada

1987 - 1990
Tax Policy Officer; Chief, Strategic Planning; and then Assistant Director, Sales and Excise Tax Division, Department of Finance

1983 - 1987
Energy Economist, Energy and Resource Programs Division, Department of Finance, then Senior Economist, Economic Development Division, Department of Finance

1981 - 1982
Executive Assistant to the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (Energy), Energy, Mines and Resources Canada

1978 - 1981
Energy Economist, Energy and Resource Programs Division, Department of Finance

MICHAEL WERNICK

Date of Birth:
September 1957

Education:

Bachelor, Economics, University of Toronto
Masters, Economics, University of Toronto

Professional Experience

Since July 2003
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultation), Privy Council Office

2002 - 2003
Associate Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage

1998 - 2002
Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs, Canadian Heritage

1996 - 1998
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Management, Canadian Heritage

1993 - 1996
Assistant Secretary, Policy Development and Constitutional Affairs, Privy Council Office

1991 - 1993
Director of Operations, Constitutional Affairs, Federal-Provincial Relations Office

1990 - 1991
Director, Strategic Planning and Corporate Services, Consumer and Corporate Affairs

1987 - 1990
Officer, Economic and Regional Development Policy Secretariat, Privy Council Office

1981 - 1987
Policy Analyst, Social Policy Division, Department of Finance

MARGARET BIGGS

Education:

Masters, International Affairs, Carleton University
Bachelor, Political Science, University of British Columbia

Professional Experience

Since December 2002
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Priorities and Planning, Privy Council Office

2000 - 2002
Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Investment Programs, Human Resources Development Canada

1998 - 1999
Associate Executive Head, Strategic Policy, Human Resources Development Canada

1996 - 1998
Special Advisor to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Human Resources Development Canada

1995- 1996
Research Fellow, Canadian Policy Research Networks

1991 - 1994
Director General, Social Policy (previously with National Health and Welfare), Human Resources Development Canada

1989 - 1991
Special Advisor to the Executive Director, Immigration Policy, Department of
Employment and Immigration

1986 - 1987
Privy Council Officer, Privy Council Office

1976 - 1985
Director of Research / Research Officer, North South Institute

---

The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]

Speech

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

---

Prime Minister Harper and Premier Charest sign historic agreement establishing a formal role for Québec in UNESCO

May 5, 2006
Québec, Québec

PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

First of all, I would like to thank Premier Charest and his government.

I would also like to thank Minister Mackay for his hard work during the discussions that have brought us here today.

But in particular, I would like to commend the contribution of the Conservative ministers and members of Parliament who have played such a key role.

We are pleased to have here with us today:

the Minister for the Quebec City region, Josée Verner,

Ministers Lawrence Cannon, Maxime Bernier, Jean-Pierre Blackburn and Michael Fortier,

the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Sylvie Boucher,

the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Jacques Gourde,

the Member of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse, Steven Blaney,

the Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert, Luc Harvey,

the Member of Parliament for Charlesbourg-Haute-Saint-Charles, Daniel Petit,

and Senator Andrée Champagne.

We will soon be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.

I know how proud Quebecers feel as this historic event draws near.

Our government will do its part to ensure that this anniversary is celebrated with dignity and remembered in a lasting manner.

Because the anniversary of the founding of Quebec City

is also the anniversary of the founding of Canada.

That’s why I’m always impressed to be here, in the National Assembly.

the first Canadian parliament.

In 1792, here in Quebec City, the first expressions of our parliamentary democracy were heard.

Some of our first parliamentarians spoke French, others English.

Some were born here and already called themselves Canadians.

some came from France

others from England, Scotland or Ireland.

But, with different accents, coming from different cultures,

they said the same thing.

They said: together, we can

build a great country and

give our children a better future.


In their own way, they said:

“We need to respect the differences that characterize our old societies, and the values we share as a young country.”

One of Canada’s strengths is its system of government.

Our country’s founders had the foresight to establish a flexible federal system, to allow strong, distinct voices to come together to pursue common goals, and thus to be a source of strength and innovation.

Our new national government’s federalism is a federalism of openness and it means drawing on the experience and expertise that the provinces and territories can bring to our nation.

Open federalism means respecting areas of provincial jurisdiction.

Open federalism means drawing on the expertise of the provinces and incorporating it into Canada’s positions in international negotiations or within organizations that are active in areas that affect provincial jurisdictions.

Open federalism means trying to bring Quebec out of the trap of polarization.

This is the very idea of open federalism – a stronger Quebec within a better Canada – and that is what our government plans to achieve.

Federalism of openness does not mean “playing favourites” or stirring up jealousies.

But it does mean that the time has come to forge new relations with the provinces, relations that are open to all parts of the country and respectful of their differences.

There are those who would like to turn back, to go back to polarization, confrontation and corruption.

That’s not how open federalism works.

We need to work together with all orders of government, and recognize the roles and responsibilities of each.

We need to look to the future and determine what we can accomplish together.

It is especially clear that it is time to turn a new leaf and deal directly and effectively with the question of Quebec’s presence at UNESCO.

For the Liberals, and I am talking about leadership hopefuls like Joe Volpe and Michael Ignatieff, the mere thought of having Quebec play a role at UNESCO is a threat to Canada’s very existence.

And for the Bloc, if Quebec can’t veto Canada’s position at UNESCO, it’s a humiliation.

Those extreme positions tend to undermine the simple recognition of a more important and cooperative role for Quebec within an organization that often addresses linguistic and cultural issues.

Open federalism means inviting Quebec to take its place and express its voice at UNESCO, and thus to complement Canada’s efforts within the UN family of nations.

And that’s what we’re doing today.

And I am very proud, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to have concluded an agreement today with Premier Jean Charest that will enable Quebec to fully participate in the activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

This agreement establishes a formal role for Quebec at UNESCO.

From now on, Quebec will participate fully, formally and directly in all of UNESCO’s activities, with the Permanent Delegation of Canada.

Today’s agreement establishes new and unprecedented mechanisms to ensure Quebec its rightful place and voice at UNESCO.

We will also be exploring innovative ways and mechanisms for UNESCO to better draw on the contribution of federal states in its activities.

Today’s agreement clearly illustrates a new era of progress within a strong, united, independent and free Canada and with a confident, autonomous, supportive and proud Quebec.

This agreement gives Quebec a greater voice on matters affecting its language and culture and strengthens its place in Canada.

For Quebec, for Canada, this agreement is an historic achievement.

This agreement will not only support the evolution of our own federation, it will help strengthen and enhance our presence and our influence in the world. It shows the UN community of nations that our federalism is an asset and a strength for us, at home and abroad.

By giving Quebec a formal role at UNESCO in collaboration with the Government of Canada, this historic agreement represents neither centralization nor separation but an arrangement that symbolizes our vision of a strong and flexible Canadian federation.

This agreement will not only support the evolution of our own federation, it will help strengthen and enhance our presence and our influence in the world. It shows the UN community of nations that our federalism is an asset and a strength for us, at home and abroad.

This agreement benefits Quebec

and it benefits Canada.

Based on open federalism, the Quebec City Commitments, which I set out here on December 19, included an invitation to the Government of Quebec to participate in Unesco.

As we sign this agreement today, that commitment has now been met, and we will very soon be reaping the benefits of our cooperation at UNESCO.

And I believe we all have one more reason to be proud to be Quebecers and Canadians.

Thank you.

---

The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]

News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

---

Prime Minister Harper and Premier Charest sign historic agreement establishing a formal role for Québec in UNESCO

May 5, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

During a ceremony today in the Quebec National Assembly’s Red Room, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Quebec Premier Jean Charest signed an agreement establishing a formal role for Quebec in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

“Today we welcome Quebec into the UNESCO family, as we promised we would on December 19 of last year,” stated Prime Minister Harper. “With our signatures at the bottom of this agreement, Quebec can now participate fully in all of UNESCO’s activities, together with and through Canada’s Permanent Delegation. This agreement is a clear illustration of our vision of open federalism. We are at the dawn of a new era, an era that will see us build a strong, united, free and independent Canada in which a confident, autonomous, proud and unified Quebec can develop its full potential.”

Premier Charest stressed that the agreement, which recognizes Quebec’s unique and distinct personality, confirms Quebec’s special role on the world scene. “The signing of this Agreement, based on asymmetrical federalism, ushers in a new era of partnership between our two governments. Our presence in UNESCO will give us a say in sectors that are important for Quebec’s identity, such as culture, science and education. The federal government is formally recognizing Quebec’s capacity to act on the international front.”

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, was founded on November 16, 1945. In all of its activities and projects, UNESCO assumes various responsibilities that reflect its role as a leading institution in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. Part of this role is to collect, transmit, disseminate and share information, knowledge and best practices in its fields of endeavour, to define innovative solutions to problems and to test out these solutions by means of pilot projects. Advancing and disseminating knowledge so that it can be shared by everyone represents UNESCO’s main task.

Today’s agreement establishes a range of new and unprecedented mechanisms that will guarantee Quebec its rightful place and voice in UNESCO.

* * * * *

Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Québec concerning the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=5&id=1153)

---

The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]