Statement

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

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STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER ON THE OCCASION OF THE JOURNÉE INTERNATIONALE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE

March 19, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the following statement today to mark the Journée internationale de la Francophonie :

"I am pleased to join with Canadians and all of our extended family in the Francophonie on this day when we celebrate our attachment to the French language and the Francophone culture.

For Canada, 2008 is a very special year, because in addition to celebrating together the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City, we are getting ready to host the 12th Francophone Summit in Quebec City. Ever since the Francophonie was founded in 1970, Canada has played a leading role in expanding the Francophonie's outreach at the international level. It is an honour for Canada to host the upcoming Francophone Summit in Quebec City, from October 17 to 19, 2008.

Canada is proud to be a part of this prominent community of 68 states and Governments, and to work on behalf of a modern, effective Francophonie. Canada places special importance on promoting cultural and linguistic diversity within this international body, as well as democratic development, human rights, strengthening the rule of law, and peace and human security.

The 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City reminds us that French is Canada's founding language. Since that date, we truly began to become what we are today, as the founding of Quebec City also marks the founding of the Canadian state.

So, the year 2008 is an opportunity for us to let the rest of the world discover the vitality and vibrancy of all of Canada's Francophone communities, in every region, and to highlight how much the contribution of the nine million French-speaking Canadians has marked both our country's history and its future.

I wish all of you an excellent Journée internationale de la Francophonie"

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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News Release

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

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PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FREE MEDICALERT BRACELETS FOR CHILDREN

March 19, 2008
LONDON, ON

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that the Government of Canada will provide the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation's No Child Without campaign with support to ensure elementary school children across the country are protected from unforeseen medical emergencies.

Speaking to an audience of parents, teachers and children at Cleardale Public School in London, Prime Minister Harper noted that an estimated one in 10 Canadian children have severe allergies, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and other conditions that can be life-threatening if emergencies are not treated properly and promptly.

"This is a constant worry for parents of kids with medical conditions that are potentially dangerous," said the Prime Minister, himself a father of two young children. "That's what prompted the creation of the MedicAlert program, which came to Canada 45 years ago. Countless children and adults have received life-saving emergency treatment thanks to their membership in the program.

"Over the next five years, the No Child Without campaign will be taken to every one of Canada's 12,000 elementary schools," Prime Minister Harper said. "I want to congratulate MedicAlert for this tremendous initiative, and I also want to applaud their new partner in the campaign, the Lions Club of Canada, which is providing funding and community-based support as the program expands across our country.

Today's announcement provides an additional $3 million to the No Child Without campaign. The Budget 2008 commitment, combined with $2 million allocated to the campaign in Budget 2007, brings the federal government's total contribution to the No Child Without campaign to $5 million.

"The program is Canadian community-based, volunteer- and donor-driven philanthropy at its finest," the Prime Minister noted. "Working together with families, schools and government, MedicAlert is making life safer and better for the children who will carry our country forward. This is the Canadian way, and I salute everyone who is contributing."

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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)]