Thank you. As a native of British Columbia, I am very pleased and proud to join you all today as we bring the Third World Urban Forum to a close.
It is altogether fitting that Vancouver, the birthplace of UN-HABITAT thirty years ago, should be hosting this gathering once again.
Vancouver, of course, has changed a lot in 30 years.
It has grown, like most cities do, and I think that we can also say, since it has been voted the world’s most liveable city, that Vancouver has grown wisely as well.
Je sais que vous avez eu une semaine bien remplie ici et je suis sûr que vous avez été productifs.
Over the course of the past few days, you’ve had an opportunity -- in plenary sessions, dialogues, roundtables and over 150 networking sessions, to share your collective knowledge, experience and expertise on how to address the challenges of rapid urbanization.
Les Canadiens et les Canadiennes n'ont pas été timides au Forum. Nous avons mis de l'avant et décrit notre expérience dans le domaine de la durabilité urbaine et nos activités pour la promouvoir au niveau international.
I am glad to note, for example, that the work of our development assistance agency in cooperation with UN HABITAT to foster clean water and proper sanitation in Africa has been highlighted. So, too, the work of numerous Canadian municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in support of local good governance practices in a number of cities around the world.
While there are no simple answers, we know that sustainable cities require many different people, from a broad range of disciplines, working together around common goals.
Look around you now. Here, in this room, are your potential partners as you return home to make your communities healthier and better places to live.
In Canada, we are proud of the success of this Forum. If you had time to read the papers this week or watch the news, you will see the intense interest generated by this, the Third World Urban Forum.
And the numbers speak for themselves. With close to 10,000 participants, we have more than doubled the number of people who were at the 2004 World Urban Forum.
Our colleagues from China who are organizing the next Forum in 2008 in Nanjing should be prepared!
While we now hand the torch over to China, Canada will continue to assist in the transition to help ensure that WUF4 will be as successful as this one has been.
The links between WUF3 and WUF4, between Vancouver and Nanjing, will further strengthen our very strong ties to China specifically and Asia, generally.
Vancouver is Canada’s Pacific Gateway to Asia and we want it to be the Asian gateway to North America. Increasing trade and investment across the north Pacific will grow both British Columbia’s and the global economy.
The World Urban Forum will allow us to broaden this connection by opening the door to the many different opportunities and partnerships related to sustainable urban development that have been discussed here this week, not only across the Pacific, but around the world.
As you leave the Forum today, I hope that the theme of this gathering - “ideas into action” - will lead to something real, that makes a difference in your own city or community.
The ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu (LAOW TSUE), once said that: “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. We took that first step four years ago in Nairobi with the launch of the first World Urban Forum, have made great strides since, both in Barcelona and here in Vancouver, and look forward to continuing the journey in China in two years.
On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the federal government, thank you for your participation, and we wish you all a safe journey home.