Home The Ambassador Canada's chief representatives to the U.S. Michael Kergin Ambassador Kergin's Speeches January 24, 2005

Remarks by Michael Kergin, Ambassador of Canada to the United States to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
January 24, 2005

I am very pleased to be in Harrisburg today. It is a particular honour for a Canadian representative to receive the privilege of addressing the House of Representatives at the beginning of a new two-year session of your State Assembly. Thank you House Speaker John Perzel, House Majority Leader Samuel Smith, and House Minority Leader Wlliam Dweese for this unique distinction.

Canada and Pennsylvania share a rich and colourful history. From the pre-revolutionary era through to the present day, we have been shaped by our common experiences and mutual influences.

Pennsylvania's impact on Canada has been significant! From the Pennsylvania Loyalists who came to Canada after the revolutionary war, to our common immigrant settlement by Mennonite communities from Europe seeking refuge, to the underground railroad that wound its way through Pennsylvania with its terminus in Canada.

During the past century, our sons and daughters have laboured together to defend freedom and to aid societies suffering from dictatorship or subjugation, and in some cases have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Canada-U.S. relations operate on so many levels. Critical to our overall bilateral relationship is the role of state governments. This is particularly true in the case of Pennsylvania exemplified by Canada's opening of a new consulate in Philadelphia last fall and the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Pittsburgh last spring.

If nothing else, we want to be part of Pennsylvania's football prowess. If we can't witness a final clash between the Eagles and the Steelers, we can watch the eagles soar!

We have brought with us today a wide ranging delegation of individuals to meet with their respective partners in your state capitol. And, we very much hope to see you at our Canada Night in Harrisburg reception later today in the main rotunda.

In 2003, Canada was Pennsylvania's leading export market. Your state delivered 36% of its foreign-bound exports - a total of $5.3 billion to Canada. Our total two-way trade is worth over $13 billion annually. On an average day, we exchange $36 million worth of merchandise alone. Of U.S. states, Pennsylvania has the 7th largest trading relationship with Canada. And we should be able to do more.

In a recent study commissioned by our Embassy, Canada-U.S. trade supported 219,000 jobs in Pennsylvania.

In 2003, over 1.2 million Canadians visited Pennsylvania, enjoying your wonderful Commonwealth as tourists.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Canada-U.S. Air Services Agreement, resulting in direct air Canada flights between Harrisburg and Toronto, linking the capitals of Pennsylvania and Ontario.

Our common interests cross many fronts from the highly technological to the natural -- for we both claim shorelines, to the largest basin of fresh water in the world.

With 20% of the world's fresh water flowing through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence System, Canada and the United States share an extraordinary resource -- as well as the responsibility -- to protect and manage the lakes for the benefit of generations to come.

And both countries have risen to the challenge, through such historic and precedent-setting agreements as the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and the 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

As great as the challenges before us have sometimes been – the response by our two countries to those challenges has always been greater. Our geography, cooperative spirit and shared ideals have resulted in agreements -- across so many sectors -- many inspired by actions taken at the state level.

For example, much past collaboration between Canada and Pennsylvania was initiated under then-Governor Ridge, as Chairman of the Great Lakes Governors Association.

More recently, in his role at Homeland Security, Secretary Ridge pioneered, with his Canadian counterpart, techniques of risk management, facilitated by the use of information technologies, to make our border more secure while minimizing the obstacles to our mutually beneficial commerce.

His role as Governor of this Commonwealth, and his first hand experience with Canada, have been of great benefit to our wider binational relationship.

And I know that this close partnership will continue under Governor Rendell and future governors.

We have a long history of friendship, close linkages and much in common.

More than 50 years ago, Winston Churchill pointed to the Canada-U.S. relationship as a model of international harmony when he said:

"That long frontier from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, guarded only by neighbourly respect and honourable obligations, is an example for every country and a pattern for the future of the world."

That "neighbourly respect" and those "honourable obligations" are found in abundance in the Canada-Pennsylvania relationship.

As you embark on your two year session, allow me to wish you every success in your deliberations. We look to Pennsylvania's leadership in the region and nationally in strengthening our stewardship over shared natural resources, our economic prosperity and our vibrant and ever growing partnership.

Thank you.