Ministers of Education to Meet in Toronto, February 22-23, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO, February 16, 2011 — Canada's ministers of education will be in Toronto on February 22–23, 2011, at the Toronto Hilton Hotel, for the 99th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), their long-standing intergovernmental body.

Hosted by the current Chair of CMEC, the Honourable Diane McGifford, Manitoba's Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy and Minister responsible for International Education, CMEC 99 will bring ministers together to discuss a number of priority education issues of importance to all Canadians.

Of particular interest to media:

  • Ministers of education will be welcoming leaders from Canada's five national Aboriginal organizations (NAOs) to discuss Aboriginal education issues. The following NAO leaders and representatives will be in attendance:
    • Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, National Chief, Assembly of First Nations; Angus Toulouse, Regional Chief, Ontario, representing Mr. Atleo for part of the meeting
    • Betty Ann Lavallée, National Chief, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
    • Udloriak Hanson, Special Advisor to the President, representing Mary Simon, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
    • Robert Doucette, Minister, Education Portfolio, representing Clément Chartier, President, Métis National Council
    • Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, President, Native Women's Association of Canada

 

Preliminary Media Program

February 23 – CMEC Press Conference
3:15 – 3:45 p.m. EST
Toronto Hilton Hotel, Toronto II Ballroom, Convention Floor
145 Richmond Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5H 2L2

 

Media Interview Room
An interview room will be located in the Varley Room, Convention Floor, and will be made available to members of the media for individual interviews with ministers of education. The room will be equipped with microphones and a media feed box.

Media Work Room
A media work room will be located in the Johnston Room, Convention Floor. It will be available on Wednesday, February 23, from 12 noon to 5 p.m., and will be equipped with Internet access and power outlets.

Members of the media are asked to contact Colin Bailey (contact information below) for further information or to arrange an interview with the Chair of CMEC.

About CMEC

Founded in 1967, CMEC is the collective voice of Canada's ministers of education. It provides leadership in education at the pan-Canadian and international levels. For more information, visit us at www.cmec.ca.

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Information

Colin Bailey
Director, Communications
Cell: 416-804-6548
Tel.: 416-962-8100, ext. 259
E-mail: c.bailey