Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome the decision by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development to appoint Donald Johnston as the secretary general.
Mr. Johnston's five year appointment will represent the first time in the OECD's history in which a non-European has been chosen to lead this major policy forum for the world's industrialized countries. Candidates from around the world were vying for this position and yet in the end it was a Canadian who was chosen.
It should come as no surprise that this longstanding member of Parliament, former cabinet minister, Montrealer and resident of Quebec should be chosen as the new leader of the OECD. He is a highly respected lawyer with a strong background in economic issues. Mr. Johnston will bring to the organization a wealth of experience with a truly Canadian perspective.
By tradition the OECD leadership is a consensus decision. Given the outcome of this announcement-