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Canada kicks in money, eases visas to keep ICAO headquarters in Montreal

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Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, left, and ICAO Secretary-General Raymond Benjamin, right, exchange documents as they sign an agreement to keep the International Civil Aviation Organization headquarters in Montreal Monday, May 27, 2013 in Montreal. Looking on are Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum, back left, ICAO Council President Roberto Gonazalez, back center, and Quebec International Affairs Minister Jean-Francois Lisee, Back right,.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

MONTREAL – The Canadian and Quebec governments agreed to several perks to keep the International Civil Aviation Organization in Canada.

A background document made available after the signing of an accord to keep ICAO in Montreal says Ottawa will spend $1.4 million to modernize ICAO conference facilities and add extra security equipment.

There will also be new accreditation service standards to cut wait times as well as improved visa services for delegates to the UN agency.

Quebec has also agreed to assume until 2026 the administrative costs for the ICAO premises, an investment of $15 million.

The agreement signed today by Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will keep ICAO in Montreal until 2036.

It has been here since 1947.

Qatar had been lobbying to move the ICAO headquarters to Doha when the current agreement ran out in 2016 but relented after intense lobbying by the federal, provincial and Montreal governments.

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