Canada welcomes International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) delegation to Ottawa, marks 70th anniversary

OTTAWA, June 2, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada's Minister of Transport, and the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, were pleased to welcome to Parliament Hill a high-level delegation from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency headquartered in Montreal. This year marks the 70^th anniversary of ICAO's founding.

The delegation is comprised of Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, outgoing Secretary General Raymond Benjamin, and his successor Dr. Fang Liu, who recently became the first woman elected as Secretary General of ICAO. Currently ICAO's Director of Administration and Services, Dr. Liu assumes her new role on August 1, 2015.

In honour of ICAO's 70^th anniversary, the delegation was recognized during various events on Parliament Hill, including by the Speaker of the Senate and by the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Ministers reaffirmed Canada's strong commitment as host country to ICAO and congratulated the Organization on 70 years of important work in global aviation. They also thanked Mr. Benjamin for his six years of service as Secretary General and gave a warm welcome to Dr. Liu, underscoring Canada's desire to continue its close collaboration with her and the Organization.

Quick Facts

• ICAO promotes the safety, security and sustainable growth of the global aviation system.
• The Organization was established following the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention, on December 7, 1944.
• Canada, one of the 54 original contracting states, has been the proud host nation of ICAO since its inception and subsequent establishment in Montreal.

Quotes

"It's my great pleasure to welcome this high-level ICAO delegation on the occasion of the Organization's 70^th anniversary. Canada has been there since the beginning and we will continue to support the essential work ICAO does to strengthen the safety, security and sustainability of civil aviation around the world. I'd like to thank Secretary General Raymond Benjamin for his leadership and congratulate Dr. Fang Liu on her historic election as the first woman Secretary General of ICAO. I couldn't be more pleased to welcome her to this new role."

The Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Transport

"I am very pleased to welcome the ICAO delegates to the host country capital. The visit represents for us an important part of our ongoing engagement with ICAO over the past 70 years. As underscored by the Parliamentary Speakers today, as well as by Parliamentary Secretary Deepak Obhrai on December 5, 2014 when we marked the launch of ICAO's 70^th anniversary year, Canada remains strongly committed to the work and well-being of ICAO. I express my thanks to Secretary General Benjamin for his work at ICAO, and reaffirm Canada's commitment to continued close collaboration with Council President Aliu and the incoming Secretary General, Dr. Liu.

The Honourable Rob Nicholson
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Associated Links

• International Civil Aviation Organization
• Transport Canada
• www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2015/03/11a.aspx?lang=eng

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SOURCE Transport Canada