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Ottawa, September 9, 2005
2005-057

Goodale Calls for New Efforts to Ensure Canada’s Long-Term Prosperity

Canada has enjoyed a long period of sustained economic growth, but our prosperity cannot be taken for granted, Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale said today in Edmonton.

"Canadians have cause to be confident, but not cocky. We dare not take anything for granted," Minister Goodale told the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. "We have been chalking up some impressive economic and fiscal results, but at the same time, the world around us has been changing in some dramatic ways."

The Minister pointed out that in addition to rising energy prices, the increased value of the Canadian dollar and more competition from emerging nations such as China, India and Brazil, Canada is also facing a demographic challenge as our workforce ages and our country faces growing demands on our system of social programs.

Minister Goodale stated that the Government has implemented and will continue to develop programs and policies to deal with these issues, while maintaining its commitment to balanced budgets and debt reduction.

"Our Government and all Canadians have worked too hard and come too far over the past decade, sowing and harvesting the fruits of fiscal responsibility, to risk having that success frittered away," the Minister said.

Minister Goodale told his audience that since balancing the books in 1997, the Government has made significant investments in education, skills training, infrastructure and research and innovation, while creating a climate that rewards entrepreneurship, business investment and job creation. At the same time, the Government continues to seek partners in business, labour and the academic communities to work together in support of these objectives.

Over the next several weeks, Minister Goodale will be speaking to business groups and other organizations in cities across Canada to discuss the challenges our country needs to meet to assure its long-term growth and prosperity and to hear the views of Canadians on this important issue.

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