Canada's North the spotlight of February meeting of G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced that Iqaluit, Nunavut, will be the site of the Meeting of G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on February 5-6. The event will be the first of a series of important global meetings in Canada in 2010, leading to the G8 and G20 Leaders' summits in June.

"The February meeting will return to the G7's roots with a more frank and focused dialogue," said Minister Flaherty. "In an ever-changing global economy, the G7 will continue to evolve, with a focus not on paper but on people—not on communiqués and accords, but on constructive dialogue on actions to strengthen the global economy."

"At such an important and challenging time, I could think of no better location for an international meeting focused on collaboration to resolve shared challenges," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Throughout its long history, the people of Nunavut and all of Canada's North have demonstrated a community spirit and steadfast determination to overcome adversity. The strength and resilience found in this region are an essential part of what defines Canada, which is why I am so pleased that G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors will soon experience it first-hand."

The meeting's discussions will include a number of key issues that have been at the heart of international meetings throughout the global economic and financial crisis, such as:

• Following through on financial sector reforms;
• Strengthening international financial institutions to enable them to better respond to economic volatility, while ensuring they better reflect the global economy of today; and
• Ensuring a sustainable global economic recovery.

Media accreditation and other logistical details for the February 5-6 G7 meeting will be made available at a later date.