CANADA’S
NEW GOVERNMENT WELCOMES GLOBAL CENTRE FOR PLURALISM
OTTAWA
– Prime
Minister Stephen Harper announced today that Canada’s New Government is
partnering with the Aga Khan to establish the new Global Centre for
Pluralism in Ottawa.
“We
are honoured that His Highness, leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims,
and one of the world's best known philanthropists, has chosen Canada as
the home of this institution,” Prime Minister Harper said.
“Pluralism is the principle that binds our diverse people together. It
is elemental to our civil society and economic strength.”
The
Centre will promote pluralism internationally as a means to advance good
governance, peace and human development. It will support academic and
professional development, provide advisory services, and support research
and learning in developed and developing countries.
At
a signing ceremony in the historic Reading Room of Centre Block on
Parliament Hill, the partnership agreement was signed by the Aga Khan and
the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, Beverly J. Oda. The
agreement provides for the Centre to be funded through an endowment seeded
with $30 million from the federal government and $10 million from the Aga
Khan Development Network. It will be
governed by a Board of Directors that will report annually to the Minister
of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and the Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
The
Government intends to conclude a lease agreement that will see the Centre
located in the Sussex Drive landmark that was the former home of the
Canadian War Museum. The Aga
Khan has committed to spending a minimum of $20 million renovating the
building to include fully-wired classrooms, an innovative research
library, and a professional theatre that will support and
showcase the Centre’s research and learning programs.
