NEWS RELEASES
VISIT BY FRENCH MINISTER-DELEGATE FOR FINANCE AND FOREIGN TRADE REAFFIRMS TRANSATLANTIC ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THE CANADA-FRANCE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION
March 22, 1996 No. 43
VISIT BY FRENCH MINISTER-DELEGATE FOR FINANCE AND FOREIGN
TRADE REAFFIRMS TRANSATLANTIC
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THE
CANADA-FRANCE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION
The Honourable Art Eggleton, Minister for International Trade, announced today
that Mr. Yves Galland, French Minister-Delegate for Finance and Foreign Trade,
will visit Canada March 24-27. As part of this visit, Mr. Galland will
participate with Mr. Eggleton in the Canada-France Joint Economic Commission on
March 25.
"Canada and France have a long-standing commercial relationship. The Canada-France Joint Economic Commission is one important part of this relationship," said
Mr. Eggleton. "With the NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement] and the
dynamism of Quebec's business community, Canada can offer French investors a
bilingual gateway into the North American market."
During his visit, Mr. Galland will hold meetings with Mr. Eggleton and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy. Mr. Galland will meet with Prime
Minister Jean Chrétien, as well as with Secretary of State (International
Financial Institutions), Douglas Peters and Bank of Canada Governor, Gordon
Thiessen.
In addition to visiting Ottawa, Mr. Galland will travel to Toronto, where he will
meet with Premier Mike Harris, and to Québec City, where he will meet with Premier
Lucien Bouchard. He will also meet with government officials and business leaders
in both provincial capitals.
Mr. Galland's visit coincides with the tenth biennial meeting of the Joint
Economic Commission. This year, the Commission will focus on high-technology
sectors, including information technology, the environment and transportation.
For the first time, the Commission will be open to Canadian and French business
representatives, who will contribute their views on ways to augment and enrich the
Canada-France commercial relationship.
France is Canada's fifth-largest investor. The value of French investments in
Canada has quadrupled, going from $1.3 billion to $4.5 billion in the last
10 years. Canadian investments in France have also progressed, reaching
approximately $2 billion in 1994, from the 1983 total of $222 million.
"The roots of Canada as a country can be found in its transatlantic links to
France and England," said Mr. Eggleton. "Minister Galland's visit builds on our
shared culture and history, and furthers these ties in the new global
environment."
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Charles Larabie/Elizabeth Blackburn
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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