2012: International Year of Co-operatives

On December 18, 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives in order to highlight the participation of co-operatives in economic development and social innovation around the world. This resolution urges governments to create an environment conducive for co-operative development and to increase their contributions for the overall conditions in which they operate.

The full text of the resolution is available in both English and French on the Canadian Co-operative Association Web site.

The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), expressed Canada's support for this resolution during a press conference held in Ottawa in December 2009.

From left to right: Ms. Carol Hunter, Executive Director of the Canadian Co-operative Association, Ms. Marthe Hamelin, President of the Conseil canadien de la cooperation et de la mutualité, and the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture).

For more information on Canada's support to the International Year of Co-operatives, please consult the News Release of December 3, 2009.

The Government of Canada will use the International Year of Co-operatives to promote the benefits of the co-operative model, so that more Canadians become aware of this way of achieving economic and social growth.

Stay tuned for details.