NEWS RELEASES
PETTIGREW TO ADDRESS GLOBAL BUSINESS FORUM
September 22, 2000 (4:00 p.m. EDT) No. 245
PETTIGREW TO ADDRESS GLOBAL BUSINESS FORUM
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew is attending the Global Business Forum in
Banff, Alberta today, where he will deliver an address entitled "Enhancing Canada's
International Competitiveness" to an audience of Canadian businesspeople. The Forum
was organized by the Alberta Economic Development Authority and the Business
Council on National Issues.
"I look forward to speaking to Canadian businesspeople about how to ensure that we
become even more competitive," said Minister Pettigrew. "I see many reasons why we
have become an international trading powerhouse: the restoration of our nation's
finances; our advanced technical infrastructure; our focus on higher value-added
products and services; our ample supply of skilled labour; our consistently high rate of
post-secondary enrollment; and our focus on development of knowledge workers."
Minister Pettigrew will also address the issue of a customs union with the U.S. "I would
not dismiss the idea out of hand, but in my view there are a number of other initiatives of
greater interest and benefit to Canadian businesses. We must, of course, continue to
defend and grow our market share in the United States, but we must also look to
deepen our relationship with other existing markets and pursue new markets and new
opportunities. It is a question of priorities."
In addition, Minister Pettigrew will call for reductions in both personal and corporate
taxes and a review of the current approach to dividing the annual surplus. "A surplus is
not just a coupon entitling the government to go on a spending spree; it is an
opportunity to improve the financial position of the country," said Mr. Pettigrew.
The Minister's remarks can be found on the Web under speech 2000/34.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sylvie Bussières
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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