York University Hosts Canadian Ambassador to Chile Lawrence Lederman

TORONTO, October 22, 1999 -- Canada's ambassador to Chile, Lawrence Lederman, will speak on Canada-Chile relations at York University on Wednesday, October 27. York Vice President (University Advancement) Gary J. Smith and the York Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) are hosting the visit.

"Latin America is an area of growing importance for Canadian commerce and investment, particularly in view of the strong position Canadian companies occupy in the mining field in Chile," said Smith. Five of the top 20 Chilean exporters are mining firms owned by Canadian interests. In 1998, their exports accounted for US$681 million, or 10.6 per cent of Chile's total mining exports, according to the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT).

The Canada-Chile free-trade agreement has been a centre piece of Canada's rapidly expanding relationship with Chile and other countries in the region since it took effect on July 5, 1997. "The trade agreement has given Canada a new presence and credibility in Latin America because it shows we are willing to act independently of the United States," said Prof. Daniel Drache, Director of the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies at York.

Canada is the second largest investor in Chile, behind the United States, primarily in the mining sector, but also with significant investments in energy, financial services, equipment manufacturing and telecommunications. In 1998, Canada ranked first among foreign investors in Chile, with US$1.43 billion (CAD$2.22 billion) in authorized new investment, according to DFAIT.

"With York's established strengths in research on Latin American developments, Mr. Lederman's visit is an opportunity for us to hear first hand from one of our ambassadors in the region about what is happening there, and what possibilities exist for expanding cooperation," said Smith.

York's Schulich School of Business has formal linkages with two universities in Chile. CERLAC is working with a university in southern Chile to establish a centre for sustainable development, and in the city of Arica in northern Chile to create a centre for adult education for women.

Lawrence D. Lederman became Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Chile in September, 1997. Prior to that he was Chief of Protocol for Canada from 1993. He also served as a member of the Monitor Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (October-December 1992), and was Consul General for Canada in Cleveland Ohio (1987-1992).

Ambassador Lederman's lecture will begin at 1:00 p.m. in The Douglas Verney Room, 674 South Ross building, Keele Campus, 4700 Keele St.

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For further information, please contact:

Gary J. Smith
Vice President
University Advancement
York University
(416) 736-5131

Tom Legler
Associate Director
CERLAC
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22038
Email: legler@yorku.ca

Susan Bigelow
Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22091
Email: sbigelow@yorku.ca
YU/107/99