World Vision president to join Canada's delegation in New York for UN General
Assembly and MDG Summit

International aid agency defines leadership for Canada

TORONTO, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - Dave Toycen, president of World Vision Canada, will join Prime Minister Harper, CIDA Minister Oda and DFAIT Minister Cannon as part of the Canadian ministerial delegation at the UN this coming week to tackle two MDGs that are shamefully behind—reducing child and maternal deaths by 2015.

World Vision says that this is Prime Minister Harper's opportunity to solidify the Muskoka Initiative if Canada wants to be known as a global player. Harper led this important signature project at this year's G8 Summit and can leave a lasting legacy by getting more countries to join the fight against child and maternal deaths with concrete action and funding commitments.

If Canada wants to secure a coveted seat on the UN Security Council, then Harper must show continued leadership at this summit by:

• supporting the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health;
• leveraging our government's experience at the G8;
• and, using the accountability report to make the UN global strategy a reality.

"Maternal and child health go well beyond politics. The lives of the most vulnerable cannot be subject to political trade-offs and these issues require real leadership. We need our government to rise to this challenge."
- Dave Toycen, CEO World Vision Canada

"This special UN summit at this two-thirds juncture in the MDG timeline is critical. It brings together donor countries, recipient countries, NGOs, foundations and corporations-the key players who can get these goals back on track."
- Dave Toycen, CEO World Vision Canada

BACKGROUND:

• CIDA invited World Vision to join the delegation due to the child-focused organization's work in the NGO coalition that encouraged the government to make child and maternal health the signature issue at the G8 this year. As part of the coalition, World Vision helped to shape the Muskoka Initiative through meetings with various levels of government, including a meeting with Prime Minister Harper in the days leading up to the G8.
• More than 8 million children and 350,000 mothers are still dying every year from preventable causes.

World Vision is a leading Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, we are dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

For further information:

For interviews with Dave Toycen, contact:
Tiffany Baggetta, cell: 416-305-9612, [email protected]