By Julie Gordon and Nicole Mordant

TORONTO/VANCOUVER |
Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:35pm EDT

TORONTO/VANCOUVER (Reuters) – The Canadian government is selling the nuclear reactor division of AECL to SNC-Lavalin Group, ending the flood of money it has pumped into the loss-making unit over the past six decades.

In a long-awaited announcement, the two parties said on Wednesday SNC-Lavalin will pay state-owned Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) C$15 million ($15.4 million) plus royalties for the unit, which designs and builds nuclear reactors for generating electricity.

Reactions to the sale price and the announcement that AECL will retain past liabilities, which includes billions of dollars to cover cost overruns on reactor projects that taxpayers will have to fund, were swift and at times angry.

“I predicted AECL would go for a ‘fire sale, bargain basement’ price — but C$15 million? I never thought it would go that cheap,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May in a message on Twitter.

Investors in SNC-Lavalin, Canada’s biggest engineering company, will “breathe a sigh of relief” at the acquisition cost, said Maxim Sytchev, an equities analyst at NCP Northland Capital Partners.

After decades of government funding — estimates run into the C$20 billions — Ottawa announced in 2009 that it planned to sell off AECL’s commercial reactor operations. The division suffered a net loss of C$435 million over the past two years.

The auction drew tepid interest even before the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan this past March, which punctured interest in nuclear power stations around the globe.

A handful of potential suitors and financiers, including Canadian nuclear power operator Bruce Power and Canada’s OMERS pension fund, stepped up briefly in what was an ultra-secretive sales process, but all except SNC-Lavalin dropped out.

JOB LOSSES, NEW BUILDS

About 1,200 AECL employees are expected to move to Candu Energy, a newly created subsidiary of Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin. Candu, which is short for Canada deuterium-uranium reactor, is the name of the reactor AECL designed, built and has sold 34 of in Canada and abroad.

Opponents of the deal quickly raised concerns about job losses, a possibility Canada’s natural resources minister said was a small price to pay.

“The other alternative would, of course, be the winding down of the business. And that would have meant ultimately all the employees dismissed, much more significant losses, an abandonment of current customers and damage to Canada’s international reputation,” Joe Oliver said at a media briefing in Toronto to announce the deal.

In a surprise development, the two parties said Candu Energy will work toward completing AECL’s enhanced Candu reactor development program, known as the EC6, helped by a contribution from Ottawa of up to C$75 million.

It was widely thought that SNC-Lavalin was only interested in pursuing nuclear reactor refurbishment and maintenance contracts, not the building of new reactors.

SNC-Lavalin said Candu Energy will target new reactor projects in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as in Jordan, Romania, Argentina, Turkey and China.

The royalty payments that the government will earn will come from future new reactor construction and life-extension projects at existing power plants.

The net present value of these royalties plus the sale of AECL’s inventory of heavy water reactors is C$285 million, a background note to the announcement said.

The is expected to be finalized early in the fall, subject to certain conditions including Competition Act approval.

AECL’s research business, the Chalk River nuclear facility that produces isotopes for medical imaging, was not included in the deal. The government will hold on to this unit and place it under private management.

SNC-Lavalin’s shares closed down 9 Canadian cents at C$56.55 on the Toronto Stock Exchange before the deal was announced.

($1=$0.97 Canadian)

(Additional reporting by Randall Palmer in Ottawa; Editing by Rob Wilson and Steve Orlofsky)

Article source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/29/us-aecl-snclavalin-idUSTRE75S6HW20110629?feedType=RSS

OTTAWA — Canada ought to go a step beyond simply denouncing the ironic appointment of North Korea chairing the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, a leading foreign policy expert said Thursday.

Fen Hampson, the director of Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa, suggested Canada temporarily withdraw from the conference as a symbol of dissent.

Given North Korea’s track record on nuclear proliferation, at the very least Canada should launch an internal review of the conference which he described as a “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” under the leadership of So Se Pyong.

“This is kind of beyond the pale,” Hampson said. “North Korea has clearly shown that it doesn’t play by the rules when it comes to arms control and the obligations of member states.”

Hampson said it wouldn’t be the first time Canada withdrew its UN ambassador under similar circumstances.

Canada pulled out of the Durban II conference on racism in Geneva in 2009 and has already vowed to boycott the next one in September. Canada was among several countries to walk out of the first event in 2001 after Iran and others ganged up on Israel.

Hampson made the comments after Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird rejected the appointment and urged North Korea to pass the opportunity on to a country with policies more in line with the conference’s stated mission.

“The fact that it gets a turn chairing a United Nations committee focused on disarmament is unacceptable, given the North Korean regime’s efforts in the exact opposite direction,” Baird said in a statement.

“We call on North Korea to pass the chair on to a credible country that will advance the disarmament agenda within the UN.”

Baird said Canada will be “reviewing” its participation on the committee, but his admonishment was in sharp contrast to the warm words Canada’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva had for his Korean counterpart — raising questions about whether the minister’s position on the appointment had emerged as an afterthought.

Delivering his farewell address to the disarmament conference on Tuesday, Marius Grinius not only followed protocol by “welcoming” his North Korean counterpart’s appointment, but spoke fondly of his recollections of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital.

“It is appropriate that my last statement in open plenary take place under your presidency,” Grinius said.

“Prior to Geneva, I had the privilege of being the ambassador to the Republic of Korea with concurrent cross-accreditation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In Pyongyang, I was fortunate to have various opportunities to exchange views with high-level government officials, senior military representatives, party cadres and academics.”

That said, he also noted the conference had become ineffectual in recent years and suggested it was on the verge of disbanding altogether.

So Se Pyong was named president of the Geneva-based group dedicated to promoting global nuclear disarmament earlier this week.

The position is allocated on a rotating basis to all 65 member states, but critics have said the rules need to change to prevent countries with records that are so diametrically opposed to the group’s mission from assuming the leadership.

North Korea pulled out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003 after violating it and went on to conduct its first nuclear bomb test three years later. The country is believed to have stockpiled up to eight nuclear warheads.

— With files from Steven Edwards

Article source: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Canada+denounces+North+Korea+appointment+enough/5032702/story.html?id=5032702

Pedestrians cross a street in front of a building under construction draped in a giant Canadian flag in downtown Vancouver, Canada. UPI/Brian Kersey 

OTTAWA, June 30 (UPI) — Canada’s gross domestic product was unchanged in April because of offsetting increases and declines among sectors, Statistics Canada reported Thursday.

The agency said “significant” gains were seen in coal and metal mining, while other gains were seen in retail sales, the public sector, construction and utilities.

Those advances were neutralized by declines in manufacturing, wholesale trade, finance, real estate and the insurance industries, the report said.

“Mining rose 1 percent in April, primarily on the strength of copper, nickel, lead and zinc mining,” StatsCan said. “Manufacturing decreased 0.7 percent, with most of the decline concentrated in the production of durable goods.”

A 0.5 percent gain in retail sales in April was offset by a 0.5 percent decline in wholesale trade, the agency said.

Article source: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2011/06/30/Canadas-GDP-flat-in-April/UPI-40621309439295/?spt=hs&or=bn

Pioneering hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser and global-health scientist Peter Singer are among 50 new appointees to the Order of Canada.

Governor-General David Johnston introduced 15 new officers and 35 members to one of Canada’s highest civilian honours on Thursday. The decorated Ms. Wickenheiser, a four-time Olympic medalist for Canada and the first woman to score a goal in a men’s professional league, said she is “very honoured” in a video statement sent from Ghana.

Dr. Singer, a leading expert in health research and bioethics, was chosen in no small part for his dedication to tackling health challenges in developing countries.

“I’m feeling humble and proud and good,” he said. “My parents came to Canada as immigrants in 1956, and I was actually a Canadian citizen before they were. It’s an amazing country of opportunity … and has a great contribution to make to the health of people in the developing world.”

War Child Canada co-founder Samantha Nutt is being lauded for her efforts to help young people in dangerous conflict zones.

Former B.C. senator Pat Carney, once the international trade minister involved in negotiating the Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement, is recognized for her public service, and Mi’kmaq leader Viola Robinson, a former president of the Native Council of Canada, for helping advance first nations communities.

Writers Nino Ricci and Malcolm Gladwell both received a nod. So did science journalist Bob McDonald, host of the CBC program Quirks Quarks, and Brett Wilson, the entrepreneur and philanthropist who also appears on the television hit Dragons’ Den.

Toronto-based actor Eugene Levy earned the distinction for decades of on-screen work, most notably in comedic roles.

The new recipients join more than 5,000 people invested over 40-plus years – though no one was named a Companion of the Order, the highest degree of recognition.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

NEW OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF CANADA

Officers of the Order of Canada

André Bandrauk of North Hatley, Que., for his pioneering work in attosecond chemistry.

William Buyers of Deep River, Ont., for his contributions to condensed matter physics, particularly in the field of magnetism.

Herménégilde Chiasson of Grand-Barachois, N.B., for his contributions to the influence of Acadian culture as a poet, playwright, filmmaker, painter and lieutenant-governor.

Lorna Crozier of Saanich, B.C., for her poetry and for her mentorship of the next generation of Canadian poets.

Alain Lefèvre of Montreal, for his contributions to the arts as a pianist and champion of Canadian music.

Terence Macartney-Filgate of Toronto, for his contributions as a cinematographer whose groundbreaking documentaries have been recognized in Canada and internationally.

Bob McDonald of Toronto, for his contributions, as a journalist and educator, to the public understanding of science.

Denis Marleau of Montreal, for his contributions to the performing arts as an internationally renowned director.

Maureen O’Neil of Ottawa, for her contributions to international development, gender equality and human rights.

Viola Robinson of Yarmouth, N.S., for her contributions to the advancement of first-nations communities locally, provincially and nationally.

Maureen Sabia of Toronto, for supporting the advancement of women in the corporate sector, and for strengthening corporate governance.

Peter Alexander Singer of Toronto, for his contributions to health research and bioethics, and for his dedication to improving the health of people in developing countries.

Annette Verschuren of Toronto, for her contributions to Canada’s retail industry and as a champion of corporate social responsibility.

Hayley Wickenheiser of Calgary, for her achievements as an athlete and for her contributions to the growth of women’s hockey.

Ronald G. Worton of Ottawa, for his sustained commitment to the development of health-research innovation in Canada.

Members of the Order of Canada

Arnold Aberman of Toronto, for his contributions to medical education and critical-care practice in Canada.

Shirley Bear of Perth-Andover, N.B., for her contributions as a first-nations visual artist and cultural activist.

Article source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/womens-hockey-pioneer-wickenheiser-among-50-appointed-to-order-of-canada/article2081690/

Bochum, Germany – The locker room was silent after the match. There was nothing to say.

France out-played Canada both in technique and in heart, and in post-game interviews the Canadian players struggled to hold back their tears.

The 4-0 loss to France is heartbreaking for the team, who’ve been working towards this tournament for two years. They have spent the last several months alone in-and-out of training camps in Rome. 

“It stings,” said midfielder Sophie Schmidt. “I mean a loss is a loss and to lose 4-0 is kind of even worse, it stings more.”

“Sick to my stomach over tonight’s loss…so sorry to all those we let down,” defender Emily Zurrer tweeted. “We are better than we were today.”

But more than the team, it’s also heartbreaking for Canadians in general. After the devastating Stanley Cup in Vancouver, the women’s national team gave the country a new dark horse to support, a tough-as-guts side that put a lot of male player to shame.

I don’t say this lightly (having dedicated much of my life to the sport), but suddenly Canada cared about women’s soccer. I don’t remember a time when women’s soccer has featured so prominently on the Canadian (and international) stage. 

In the past I’d have been surprised if the average Canadian could name a player on the team.

And suddenly the team’s captain Christine Sinclair was trending on Twitter. 

No one got hit by lightning, and despite her admission that the “coach has the responsibility for everything,” few can put the blame entirely on Carolina Morace. She’s pressed her team to play possession ball, fast fluid soccer – the exact game that France took to the field, and Canada did not.

It’s true, France played a nearly flawless match, moving as a team and capitalizing on every opportunity. Their four goals were picture perfect. More than anything, though, it was heart that won the match.

As soon as France scored that first goal against Canada in the 24th minute, they went into overdrive. Meanwhile, Canada panicked – both on the back-line and up front. They made several mistakes in defence, which turned into goals. And up front, they missed the net time and time again. The numbers speak for themselves; Canada had no shots on net. 

“The heart and the drive and all that – France seemed to have more of it today and that’s what ended up winning it,” said goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
 
So what went wrong?

It’s hard to say. A lot of players themselves were lost for words. All I saw was panic. 

When I panic, I revert to the basics: grilled cheese and tomato soup.  In team Canada’s case, it was equally unexciting: kick and run.

“Under pressure, we have a tendency to revert to Pelleruding the ball upfield, methinks,” Tweeted blogger Jamie Doyle during the game, in reference to the dump and chase soccer style taught by former Canadian coach Evan Pellerud.

Call it momentum, call it heart, call it courage, call what you like. But “when you lose it, it’s hard to get back,” said Schmidt.

Sinclair came off the field late in the game with pain after an impact to her broken nose. But this wasn’t the Sinclair of the first match demanding to go back on the field. She went back on, and hats off to her for that. But there seemed no sense of urgency; she seemed broken in more ways than one.

What next?

Well I’m sure the team’s going to have a good rest after this tournament, but they don’t have long to get their game back in shape before the Olympic qualifiers next January in Vancouver.

On a larger scale about the future of the program, I agree with CBC Sports commentator Jason DeVos. The problems start from the bottom – the focus has always been on winning rather than on player development.

As a result, both on the men’s side and the women’s side, there aren’t enough really good technical players for the coaches to choose from, especially for the type of system that Morace is trying to implement.

Another obvious gap is the lack of a professional league in Canada. France, Germany and the USA (among others) have top-tier professional leagues to recruit and develop their players.

Many players (myself included) grew up playing provincial soccer, playing at the national training centres, national training camps and university. But then right after university, we drop out of the system. 

Besides a few Canadian teams in the 2nd-tier W-league, there’s no way for coaches to scout new players. And more importantly, there’s no way for players to get the experience and exposure needed to play on an international level.

It speaks volumes that 10 players on the French team play on the same club team in Lyon. Those players are practising and playing together every day, every week. 

It shows.

Having been a player myself, I understand how gutted everyone on the team is.

But the next game against Nigeria has to be about heart. The Nigerians have proved themselves a tough team (with 1-0 loses to both Germany and France).

Canada has got its work cut out for them if they want to end this tournament on a high.

Follow Anjali Nayar on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/anjalinayar

Article source: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/fifawomensworldcup2011/blog/2011/06/canada-what-went-wrong.html

Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:16pm EDT

* C$ firms to C$0.9645 to the U.S. dollar, or $1.0368

* Hits strongest point since May 13

* Relief over Greek debt improves risk appetite

* Better-than-expected Canadian data supports

* Bond prices lower across curve

By Trish Nixon

TORONTO, June 30 (Reuters) – Canada’s dollar strengthened
to a near seven-week high against the greenback on Thursday,
boosted by a surge in commodity prices, easing of Greece’s debt
woes and slightly better-than-expected domestic economic data.

The currency rose for a fourth day as world stocks and the
euro rallied after Greece approved the final austerity measures
needed to secure international funding and avert imminent
bankruptcy. The news also boosted commodity prices.
[MKTS/GLOB]

“The external factors are the key here,” said Paul Ferley,
assistant chief economist at Royal Bank of Canada, pointing to
stronger commodity prices and developments in Europe.

“Those (euro zone debt) pressures seem to be easing, and
with that, the U.S. dollar is weakening after the
flight-to-safety we saw earlier on.”

Canada’s dollar was also supported by positive domestic
news, as economic data this week beat low expectations.

Gross domestic product (GDP) was unchanged in April
following 0.3 percent growth in March, Statistics Canada said
on Thursday. This was slightly better than the average forecast
of a 0.1 percent decline. [ID:nN1E75T0ER]

On Wednesday, data showed that inflation in Canada reached
its highest since May 2003, raising the prospect the central
bank could lift interest rates sooner than had been expected.
[ID:nN1E75S02V]

“We had much stronger-than-expected inflation data and now
stronger-than-expected GDP data, so both will factor into
expectations for the Bank of Canada, pulling forward the
expectations of the market,” said Camilla Sutton, chief
currency strategist at Scotia Capital.

Overnight index swaps, which trade based on expectations
for the key central bank rate, showed that traders on Thursday
priced in a slightly higher probability of rate hikes later
this year following the GDP data, though a full 25-basis-point
rate hike was not priced in until 2012. BOCWATCH

Higher interest rates tend to help a country’s currency
appreciate because they often attract international capital
flows.

The Canadian dollar ended the day at C$0.9645 to the U.S.
dollar, or $1.0368, up from C$0.9706 to the greenback, or
$1.0303. Earlier it hit a session high of C$0.9625, or $1.0390,
its strongest since May 13.

Using Bank of Canada closing rates, the currency ended the
quarter up about 0.5 percent against the U.S. currency and has
gained about 3.1 percent year-to-date.

Looking ahead, Ferley said the strength of the currency
would hinge on the sovereign debt struggles of Greece and the
euro zone, with the market looking for authorities to contain
the situation.

Longer term, he said the Canadian dollar will be buffeted
by North American economic data.

“A lot of the weakness we’ve been seeing in Canada and the
U.S. should ease and we should see stronger growth in the
second half of the year.”

“With that we may see a little bit more support for
commodity prices, and some support for the Canadian dollar.”

U.S. data on Thursday showed an unexpected jump in business
activity in the U.S. Midwest that helped quell fears about an
economic slowdown. [ID:nN9E7HG00J]

Canadian bond prices were lower across the curve as
investors sought riskier assets.

The two-year bond CA2YT=RR fell 7 Canadian cents to yield
1.6 percent, while the 10-year bond CA10YT=RR fell 33
Canadian cents to yield 3.13 percent.
(With additional reporting by Solarina Ho; Editing by Jeffrey
Hodgson)

Article source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/30/markets-canada-dollar-bonds-idUSN1E75T1WK20110630

Canada’s dollar appreciated for a
fourth straight day in the longest winning streak since April as
global stocks gained and crude oil, the nation’s largest export,
traded at almost a two-week high.

The loonie, as the currency is also known, touched the
strongest level versus the U.S. dollar in almost seven weeks
after Greek lawmakers approved a second bill on an austerity
plan to head off a default. Government data yesterday showed
consumer prices in Canada rose last month at the fastest since
2003. The currency stayed higher today after another report
showed economic growth in April beat forecasts it would shrink.

“Risk is back on today,” said C.J. Gavsie, managing
director for foreign-exchange trading at Bank of Montreal’s BMO
Capital Markets unit in Toronto. “After the most recent CPI
number, we are going to see Canada continue to strengthen.”

The Canadian currency appreciated 0.5 percent to 96.43
cents per U.S. dollar at 2:07 p.m. in Toronto, compared with
96.95 cents yesterday. It touched 96.25 cents, the strongest
level since May 13. Once Canadian dollar fetches $1.0370.

Government bonds fell, pushing the yield on the benchmark
10-year note up three basis points to 3.11 percent. It touched
3.14 percent, the highest since May 20. A basis point is 0.01
percentage point. The price of the 3.25 percent security
maturing in June 2021 decreased 23 cents to C$101.19.

“The 96.5 level in Canada terms is sticky,” said Shane Enright, executive director at Canadian Imperial Bank of
Commerce’s CIBC World Markets unit in Toronto. “It was stuck
here several times on previous dips lower,” he said, referring
to drops in the greenback versus the loonie.

Month, Quarter

Canada’s dollar headed for a 0.4 percent advance on the
month versus its U.S. counterpart. It’s up 0.6 percent on the
quarter that ends today and is 3.5 percent higher this year. The
currency rose yesterday by the most since December on an
intraday basis after the inflation report and as debt-strapped
Greece’s parliament approved the austerity plan.

The loonie extended gains today versus the greenback after
Greek lawmakers voted 155-136 to implement the 78 billion-euro
($113 billion) package of budget cuts and state asset sales, a
key to receiving further international financial aid.

The Standard Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.9 percent in its
fourth daily gain. Crude oil for August delivery gained 0.6
percent to $95.30 a barrel in New York after reaching $95.84
yesterday, the highest level since June 15.

‘Down the Road’

“Financial European issues were pushed down the road,”
said Firas Askari, head currency trader in Toronto at Bank of
Montreal’s BMO Capital unit. “The Australian dollar and the
loonie are benefiting.”

Australia’s dollar gained 0.3 percent to $1.0716 after
touching $1.0751, the strongest level since June 7. The Aussie
slipped 0.1 percent versus the Canadian currency to C$1.0337.

Canada’s economy stalled in April as automobile production
was disrupted by natural disasters in Japan, data showed. Output
in the world’s 11th largest economy was little changed at a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of C$1.26 trillion ($1.31
trillion), Statistics Canada said. Economists in a Bloomberg
survey forecast GDP contracted 0.1 percent.

The economy grew 2.8 percent from a year earlier, the data
showed, compared with a revised 2.9 percent gain in April 2010.

To contact the reporters on this story:
Chris Fournier in Halifax, Nova Scotia at
cfournier3@bloomberg.net;
Frederic Tomesco in Montreal at
tomesco@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Dave Liedtka at
dliedtka@bloomberg.net

Article source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-30/canada-dollar-gains-a-fourth-day-as-stocks-rise-oil-at-almost-2-week-high.html

Ottawa (CNN) — The UK’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrived in Canada Thursday on their first official foreign trip since their wedding in April.

The royal couple landed in Ottawa, the Canadian capital, Thursday afternoon, on a Royal Canadian Air Force jet.

They will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial to recognize Canada’s servicemen and women, before being formally greeted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston, in an event featuring full military honors and a 21-gun salute.

Later on Thursday they’ll meet young Canadians at a barbecue.

Prince William has said it is a “great privilege” to have been invited to Canada for their first trip as a married couple.

When the pair left London’s Heathrow airport Thursday morning, the duchess — whose fashion choices are closely watched — was wearing a jacket by a Canadian label, Smythe les Vestes.

The itinerary for the nine-day tour has been designed to mix official events with some less formal activities, including a cooking workshop in Montreal and the Calgary Stampede, a big annual rodeo and festival.

But the newlyweds are unlikely to find themselves out of the spotlight, as more than 1,300 accredited journalists will be following their every move.

On Friday the couple will mark the Canada Day national holiday by attending a citizenship ceremony and later joining thousands of people for the Parliament Hill Noon Show, featuring music and military displays.

Friday would have been the 50th birthday of Prince William’s mother, Princess Diana, who was enthusiastically received on her own 18-day visit to Canada with Prince Charles in 1983.

Widespread support for the monarchy makes Canada, which is part of the Commonwealth — a loose association of nations that used to be part of the British Empire — a pretty safe bet for a debut royal tour, correspondents say.

However, as many as 300 anti-monarchy protesters are expected to demonstrate Sunday at Quebec City Hall, Canadian media reports say.

A spokesman for the Quebecois Network of Resistance, a group which wants to cut Canada’s ties to the British monarchy, told CTV News: “As tourists, they’re more than welcome in Quebec. But as long as they want to hold a title or pretend to have any authority in Quebec … they are not welcome.”

A poll released on the eve of the visit by Angus Reid Public Opinion suggests one in three Canadians would like to sever all ties with the British monarchy.

However, nearly three-quarters of those surveyed have a favorable impression of Prince William, who is second in line to the British throne, while 68% like Catherine.

Prince William, who was famously mobbed by screaming girls when he visited Canada as a teenager in 1998, has been keen to return to the country for many years, his private secretary said ahead of the trip.

“Catherine and I are very much looking forward to our tour of Canada. We hope to be able to meet as many people as possible and to see as much of the extraordinary and diverse country as we can,” the Duke of Cambridge said in a statement on the Canadian government’s official website for the tour.

“I have wonderful memories from my last times in Canada, and as such we consider it a great privilege to have been invited to Canada for our first joint tour.”

The itinerary also includes stops in Prince Edward Island — where Prince William will take part in a coast guard rescue exercise — the Northwest Territories and Alberta.

While in the Northwest Territories, the couple will take part in aboriginal activities, including traditional drumming, dancing and sports.

The Canadian government, which is paying for the visit, has described it as “a distinct honor” and Wednesday unveiled a design for new personal flags, incorporating maple leaves, to be flown to mark the couple’s presence. It has also launched an iPhone application to help people follow the tour.

Royal enthusiasts will also be able to buy a wide range of souvenir merchandise, such as “I love Kate and William” T-shirts featuring the Canadian flag.

Queen Elizabeth II, William’s grandmother, remarked on her trip to Canada last year that for the royals, the country is a “home away from home.”

After they wrap up their Canadian tour, the prince and duchess will head to California for three days.

CNN’s Max Foster contributed to this report.

Article source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/06/30/canada.royal.visit/index.html?section=cnn_latest

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Prince William and Kate have arrived in Canada for their first official overseas trip.

A Canadian military plane carrying the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge landed Thursday at Ottawa’s international airport. The smiling couple stepped off the plane into bright sunshine and shook hands on the tarmac with Canadian officials before leaving immediately for the National War Memorial.

The newlyweds will stay in Canada for nine days and among other things will take part in Canada Day celebrations, open the world-renowned Calgary Stampede and hand out flags to newly minted Canadians at a citizenship ceremony before jetting off to Los Angeles.

The young prince and his wife have star power to burn and Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore reckons this will be one will be the most-watched royal tour in Canada’s history.

Canada’s prime minister has unveiled a personal flag for use during William’s visit. It is the first flag to be created by Canada for a member of the royal family since 1962, when the queen adopted a personal flag for her own use in Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the flag was approved by the queen and William.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Prince William and Kate have arrived in Canada for their first official overseas trip since their wedding.

A Canadian military plane carrying the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge landed Thursday at Ottawa’s international airport.

The newlyweds will take part in Canada Day celebrations, open the world-renowned Calgary Stampede and hand out flags to newly minted Canadians at a citizenship ceremony during their nine-day tour before jetting off to Los Angeles.

The young prince and his wife have star power to burn and Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore reckons this will be one will be the most-watched royal tour in Canada’s history.

The trip starts in the nation’s capital where will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial before attending a reception.

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/prince-william-kate-arrive-canada-tour-180603821.html

OTTAWA, Ontario ? Prince William and Kate arrive in Canada on
Thursday for their first official overseas trip since their
wedding, in a visit that is expected to draw record-numbers of
star-struck crowds and well-wishers hoping to catch a glimpse of
the royal couple. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will celebrate
Canada Day in Ottawa, open the Calgary Stampede and go canoeing in
the Northwest Territories during their nine day-tour of their
future realm before taking off to Los Angeles. “The response we’ve
gotten is overwhelming,” Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore
told The Associated Press. “We’re already now having to adjust some
of our plans from moving the couple in and around the capital here,
closing off some streets and moving people around.” Canada’s prime
minister has even unveiled a personal flag for use during William’s
visit. It is the first flag to be created by Canada for a member of
the royal family since 1962, when the queen adopted a personal flag
for her own use in Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the
flag was approved by the queen and William. The young prince also
plans to demonstrate his skills as a helicopter rescue pilot by
taking part in a water landing demonstration, and the couple is
scheduled to put on aprons and take part in a cooking workshop in
Quebec City. But the couple won’t be welcomed by all. Some
anti-royal protests are expected in the French-speaking province of
Quebec, with small groups planning protests in Quebec City and
Montreal. The prince and Kate jet to Los Angeles on July 8 and will
host a gala dinner there the next night to introduce up-and-coming
British film talent to Hollywood executives. The southern
California trip includes a $4,000 three-course meal and a charity
polo match up close with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they
are formally known. So far, about 1,000 VIP tickets have been sold
to the polo match along with about 400 general admission passes,
raising nearly $4.4 million for the July 9 event. William plans to
play in the match, and his wife will award the trophy to the
winning team. Decades have passed since Canadians abandoned the
Union Jack and replaced “God Save the Queen” with “O Canada.”
Ordinarily, most Canadians are indifferent to the monarchy. However
the 85-year-old Queen Elizabeth II ? William’s grandmother ?
remains Canada’s titular head of state, is portrayed on its coins
and stamps and has visited 22 times as queen. “For a new generation
of Canadians it’s a new introduction for themselves into the
monarchy,” Moore said. This royal couple is expected to draw
thousands and more than 1,300 journalists are accredited. William
got a reception fit for a rock star the last time he visited Canada
as a 15-year-old in 1998. He wowed teenage girls who wolf-whistled
him when he visited Vancouver, British Columbia, with his father
Prince Charles. William looked aghast at the commotion back then.
That trip was the first official foreign visit for him since the
death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash in Paris in
August 1997. William will be celebrating Canada’s birthday on
Friday, the same day his mother would have turned 50. He is due to
say a few words at a number of stops. Kate is not scheduled to
speak. The couple will travel from the sub-Arctic to oil-rich
Calgary, Alberta, from busy Montreal to bucolic Prince Edward
Island of “Anne of Green Gables” fame. They’ll sit around a
campfire with young people, dress casual for the Calgary rodeo,
join a cookout in Quebec City and hand out flags to newly-minted
Canadians at a citizenship ceremony. Harper is the most
pro-monarchy Canadian leader since the 1950s, and his ambition is
to foster a national identity that is more conservative and more
aware of its historical roots. …
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Article source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43590880