Congo debt deal set to go ahead-Canada

TORONTO Nov 25 (Reuters) - The Paris Club of creditor nations is in a position to conclude a rescheduling of Democratic Republic of Congo's debt now that Canada has come onside with the move, a Canadian finance official said on Wednesday.

The International Monetary Fund said this month Congo must make arrangements on the rescheduling of its debt with the Paris Club before it could qualify to enter a global debt relief program.

Canada initially delayed the deal, asking for more time to consult on the investment environment in Congo.

Congo officials accused Canada of holding up the deal due to the Central African country's decision to cancel a mining contract of Canadian company First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO). Canada dropped its opposition on Tuesday.

"The fact that Canada is ready to provide its own financing assurances has enabled the Paris Club as a whole to be in a position to provide such financing assurances to the IMF," a finance official said on Wednesday when asked if the group now had a deal with Congo. (Reporting by Cameron French and Randall Palmer; editing by Mohammad Zargham) ((cameron.french@thomsonreuters.com; +1 416-941-8199: Reuters Messaging: cameron.french.reuters.com@reuters.net)