FSM Information Services
Press Release
FSM Delegation Meets with Canadian Senator Peter Boehm, Discuss Strengthening FSM-Canada Cooperation
FUNAFUTI, Tuvalu—On August 15th 2019, while His Excellency David W. Panuelo was in the 50th Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Retreat, the rest of the FSM delegation met with the Honorable Peter Boehm, Member of the Canadian Senate. The purpose of the meeting was to briefly review past and contemporary instances of FSM-Canadian cooperation, and to discuss what future assistance might look like.
“I just wanted to offer, first, a few message from Canada, if that’s alright,” began Senator Boehm. “It’s mainly on two fronts…climate change and women’s empowerment. …On the climate change side, we do want to be a partner with [the FSM]; we are in the Pacific [too], but kind of at the northern, colder end of things.”
“Since about 2016 [Canada] has contributed about $350,000 for fisheries management, and approximately $50,000 to the Conservation Society of Pohnpei…and the Youth Council,” Senator Boehm continued. “So it’s things like that, that are very visible and that you can see…we we want to work closely with you and the [Pacific Islands Forum] to advance our shared priorities at the United Nations.”
Special Consultant to the President on Foreign Affairs, Lorin S. Robert, spoke on behalf of the FSM delegation’s reply. “We appreciate very much the assistance of Canada, and we are also mindful of your engagement not only in our Micronesian region but the whole of the Pacific...we are very happy that you reiterated [Canada’s] position on climate change.”
Senator Boehm was quick to note that climate change is a threat not only to the Pacific but the world as a whole, while also acknowledging that many large economies—including Canada’s—operate in large part on the extraction and utilization of fossil fuels. “We don’t want to kill ourselves economically, but do we want to improve our environment. It’s a tough [issue].”
Perhaps the most pertinent outcome for citizens and organizations within the FSM was the discussion on the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. This is funding that the Canadian Embassy in Canberra, Australia, maintains, accepting small grant requests—particularly on the aforementioned grassroots, highly local and highly visible types of projects—from across the Pacific.
The Canadian delegation also made mention of Canada’s interest in becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, of which it is competing with both Ireland and Norway. The FSM delegation noted that discussions will be made within the Department of Foreign Affairs and the FSM’s Mission to the United Nations regarding this request.
The FSM is committed to extending to all nations what it seeks: peace, friendship, cooperation, and love in our common humanity. The Nation looks forward to a strengthened relationship with the people and Government of Canada as our countries seek to ensure the terms of the Paris Agreement are met, and that the existential threat of climate change is solved with sustainable solutions.
