RIGHT HONOURABLE JUSTIN TRUDEAU (Prime Minister of Canada): Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon, everyone. Today,
I had the great pleasure of welcoming His Excellency, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General
of the United Nations, to Canada. Earlier today, after meeting in private, we sat down
with ministers Bibeau, Dion, and McKenna to discuss issues of pressing importance, both
to the UN and to Canada. On climate change we discussed the importance
of the Paris Agreement and how the UN and Canada can collaborate more closely to ensure
that we achieve our ambitious goals. We discussed how Canada’s new re-focused approach for
Iraq, Syria, and the broader region--which better reflects our values and unique areas
of expertise--will help address both the short and long-term problems the Middle East is
facing. I reiterated the commitment of our government to make… to strengthen the UN’s
ability to maintain international peace and security, including by increasing support
for peace operations, and contributing more to mediation, conflict prevention, and post-conflict
reconstruction efforts. As for humanitarian assistance, I indicated
that Canada is enthusiastic about participating in the global humanitarian summit that
Mr. Ban will be hosting in May. Canada will continue its humanitarian efforts
throughout the world, particularly by supporting initiatives aimed at improving
women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health. Together we discussed gender
equality and empowerment of girls and women,
a subject dear to both our hearts. Our government has shown leadership on
this front and shall continue to promote equality in all of our actions, both at home and abroad.
Lastly, we discussed global migration and the refugee crisis. To date, Canada has admitted
over 18 000 Syrian refugees and is on target to meet its objective of admitting 25 000
by the end of February. But admitting refugees
is only part of the solution, of course. Working with key partners like the UN, we will continue to
contribute to initiatives on the ground in such places as Lebanon and Jordan to ensure that the refugees
fleeing these conflicts have access to food, water, shelter, health care and education,
and that their living conditions are acceptable. I look forward to the remainder of Mr. Ban’s visit to
Ottawa today where we will be engaging in a discussion with local youth at the Glebe
Collegiate Institute. As Minister for Youth it’s important for me to hear what our young
leaders have to say about the issues that matter to them.
We’ll wrap up the day with a dinner to honour Mr. Ban and his many impressive accomplishments
while at the UN. I want to take this time to thank the Secretary General for being here
today. Canada looks forward to a strengthened relationship with the United Nations in the
coming years. Thank you.
THE HONOURABLE BAN KI-MOON (United Nations Secretary General): Mr. Prime Minister, ladies
and gentlemen, I am very honoured to be visiting your country so soon after your election as
Canada’s Prime Minister. This is my fifth visit to Canada since becoming
Secretary General, but my first since Mr. Trudeau became Prime Minister.
We have just had some very constructive exchanges on a wide range of important issues. We spoke about
climate change, peace operations, sustainable development and the situation with migrants
and refugees. We also discussed the world’s hot spots, including Syria.
I thank the Prime Minister for his robust cooperation with the United Nations. It is a great
pleasure to work with him and with the Canadian government.
Ladies and gentlemen, the weather here is quite cold, but the relationship between the
United Nations and Canada are very, very warm. Since the United Nations was founded, Canada
has always been one of our most important partners. We thank former Prime Minister and
Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Lester Pearson, for helping to pioneer United Nations peacekeeping.
Prime Minister Trudeau has declared Canada’s recommitment to the United Nations. I am here
to declare that the United Nations enthusiastically welcomes this commitment. Thank you, Mr. Prime
Minister. At the climate conference last December in
Paris, Prime Minister Trudeau’s leadership helped us secure the breakthrough we needed
for the historic Paris agreement on climate change. Now we need Canada to put the agreement
into action and help keep the rest of the world on track.
I have invited the Prime Minister to attend the signing ceremony in New York on April
22nd. This will be the best possible way to mark Mother Earth Day.
I also commend Canada for its compassionate approach to migrants and refugees. Later today
I will visit the Catholic Centre for Immigrants and this will build on my many meetings with
the refugees and migrants around the world. They have lost their homes and their family
members. They deserve opportunity, human rights, protection and peace. Canada is helping to
give them hope. I applaud highly Canada’s commitment to
resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees. This is a great show… demonstration of compassionate
leadership. I also commend the Prime Minister for committing
to addressing United Nations human rights recommendations on indigenous people in Canada,
particularly in violence against indigenous women and girls. I am impressed by Prime Minister
Trudeau’s commitment to young people. Later today we will meet together with high
school students. He’s showing and leading by example by combining his portfolio as Minister
of Youth in addition to his premiership. Although I’ll be in Canada for only three
days, we are laying plans to strengthen our collaboration for years to come. I have brought
a number of my top senior advisors, including senior officials dealing with the peacekeeping,
humanitarian emergencies, sustainable development, and youth. We are focused on concrete results.
I am confident that our collaboration will have a meaningful impact on the lives of people
around the world. I thank you. Thank you very much.