Former Canadian ambassador joins the Fraser Institute on immigration policy

Contact:

Michael Walker, Executive Director
The Fraser Institute (604) 714-4545
Email michaelw@fraserinstitute.ca

For Release: 29 January 2002

VANCOUVER, BC— Former Canadian ambassador Martin Collacott has joined the Fraser Institute as a Senior Fellow in immigration, refugee, and anti-terrorism studies, Michael Walker, the Institute's executive director, announced today.

As a Senior Fellow, Mr. Collacott will undertake studies of immigration policy, the treatment of refugees, and related issues involving terrorism. He will work from the Fraser Institute's Vancouver office and will focus on issues of national importance.

Mr. Collacott brings 30 years of distinguished service in the Department of External Affairs for Canada. Among his assignments during this time was that of Director General for Security Services and in this capacity he was responsible for the coordination of counter-terrorism policy at the international level.

He has represented Canada's Department of External Affairs in Indochina, Hong Kong, Lagos, and Tokyo. During the late 1960s, he served as the Chinese-speaking member of the Canadian negotiating team which established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

Later in his career, Mr. Collacott was appointed as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ambassador to Syria and Lebanon, and as Ambassador to Cambodia. In the course of these assignments he had major responsibilities for delivery of immigration and refugee programs. This experience has left him with a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by this very important area of public policy.

Mr. Collacott is a distinguished addition to the Fraser Institute's diverse roster of Senior Fellows including: Murray Allen MD, Professor Eugene Beaulieu, Professor Paul Brantingham, Professor Barry Cooper, Professor Stephen Easton, Professor Herb Emery, Professor Tom Flanagan, Mr. Gordon Gibson, Dr. Herb Grubel, Professor Ron Kneebone, Professor Rainer Knopff, Dr. Owen Lippert, Professor Ken McKenzie, Mr. Preston Manning, Professor Jean-Luc Migue, Dr. Lydia Miljan, Professor Ted Morton, Professor Filip Palda, and Professor Christopher Sarlo.

Established in 1974, The Fraser Institute is an independent public policy organization based in Vancouver with offices in Calgary and Toronto.