CANADA’S PERFORMANCE SCORES HIGHER THAN G8 COMPLIANCE AVERAGE
TORONTO, CANADA – Canada has ranked above the G8 average in fulfilling commitments, according to a report released today by the G8 Research Group at the University of Toronto, the world’s leading source of analysis on the G8. The Group’s 2009 Final Compliance Report looks into each country’s efforts in meeting their commitments made at the 2009 L’Aquila G8 Summit.
Canada has received perfect scores in issue areas such as the World Economy, Climate Change, and Health Systems. The Canadian government has thoroughly fulfilled its pledge to promote global financial stability by participating in the establishment of the OTC Derivatives Regulators’ Forum and introducing several legislative reforms to the Canadian tax and pension plan systems.
Canada has also received top scores in financing efforts to combat climate change. The government has carried-out its commitment to implement an effective financial arrangement to support the post-2012 Kyoto regime. In December 2009, the Canadian government was one of the first nations to sign the Copenhagen Accord and has since pledged a CAD100 million donation towards assisting developing countries transition to low-carbon economies.
Finally, on the issue of Health Systems, Canada’s performance has once again excelled. Harper has directed funding towards improving health care infrastructures in Kenya, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and El Salvador.
Nevertheless, Canada still has a long way to go before it can fulfill all the promises it issues at G8 Summits. The government has received the lowest scores in the area of International Trade.
As the host of this year’s summit, Canada’s overall performance remains in good standing at the close of the 2009 compliance cycle, as it welcomes the G8 to Muskoka June 25-27, 2010.
The G8 Research Group will be on site at the summit, available for comment both by email and in person. The full report can be found at g8.utoronto.ca
For more information contact:
Erin Fitzgerald, Chair
Email: erin.kelly.fitzgerald@gmail.com
or
Amadeus Domaradzki, Director of Communications
E-mail: media@g8live.org