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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">June 5, 2006<br>
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic<br>
2006/11<br>
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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="text-decoration: underline">CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY</span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">THE HONOURABLE PETER MACKAY, </span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">MINISTER OF </span><span style="font-size: 14pt">FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND</span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">MINISTER OF THE ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY</span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">AT THE MINISTERIAL MEETING </span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">OF THE SUMMIT IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW GROUP, </span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">36TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES</span></span></p>
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<p>I am pleased to be here today for the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Summit
Implementation Review Group. With new governments in place in Canada and in many
other countries of the hemisphere, the timing to take stock of where we stand in the
Summit process and consider the road ahead to the Fifth Summit is perfect.</p>
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<p>On behalf of Canada, I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely extend our
congratulations to our friends from Peru, Foreign Minister [Oscar] Maúrtua and
President-elect [Alán] García, for a very peaceful and successful transition and
campaign. It proves again the unique good that comes from representative democracy.</p>
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<p>I also want to acknowledge the great efforts of Minister [Jorge] Taiana and the
Government of Argentina for the Fourth Summit in Mar del Plata last November. The
Declaration and Plan of Action that emerged from that Summit underscore the
continued need for hemispheric cooperation to deliver a balanced agenda of
democracy, equality and prosperity, which the people of our region have come to
expect and deserve.</p>
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<p>The emphasis on eradication of poverty and healthier representative democracies, as
well, are laudable goals that we embrace. We spoke, at a CARICOM [Caribbean
Community] breakfast this morning, about the need not only for words, but for actions
and follow-up on the commitments to see that these goals are attained. I believe that
that sentiment has to prevail, that there must be sufficient follow-up.</p>
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<p>Canada is committed to the Summit process, and convinced that it provides the best
way to bring leaders of the hemisphere together to reaffirm our willingness to work
together on the challenges that affect us all. We are all better off when we pull together.
This should be our starting point as we move from Mar del Plata to 2009. </p>
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<p>In this regard, I am pleased that Trinidad and Tobago has offered to be the host and
will take on the important task of organizing the Fifth Summit in 2009. Canada fully
supports Trinidad and Tobago as the incoming chair of the Summit. We will work very
closely with them in that process, as I know others will. We will share the knowledge
and know-how that we have to see that they make a great success of this ambitious
undertaking. As we look ahead, we need to have a clear vision of where we want to go
and a road map that will unfold in the run-up to the next Summit.</p>
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<p>From my perspective, I want to share with you three key areas where I believe we
should focus our efforts in building on past Summit commitments and successes for the
future.</p>
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<p>The first area is “deepening democracy and consolidating freedom,” which are the first
words of the Declaration of Mar del Plata. We must remain committed to democratic
principles—they are our overarching goal. We have taken important steps to give life to
this commitment, notably through the Inter-American Democratic Charter. There is still
more to do. These efforts must be sustained and strengthened. The Organization of
American States has a key role to play, whether through the crucial efforts of electoral
observation missions to ensure free and fair elections, or through support for the
strengthening of democratic institutions, the cornerstone of transparency, inclusiveness
and accountability for democratic governance.</p>
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<p>We have seen a number of recent examples of great success. Haiti was an example of
how important the contributions can be from other countries in ensuring fair outcomes
of elections.</p>
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<p>In this regard, I am particularly pleased that Canada was able to support the Forum on
Democratic Stability in the Americas: The Institutional Role of the OAS, which was held
here in Santo Domingo two days ago to look at ways to reinforce the work of the
Organization of American States in this critical area.</p>
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<p>The second key area is establishing a sound basis for sustainability and economic
growth. This is an important part of creating new economic opportunities to raise the
standard of living and should continue to be a top priority. We believe that economic
freedom is the incentive that keeps people motivated in the economy. There are
positive and encouraging signs that our region, overall, is making headway in this
direction.</p>
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<p>Many of the important discussions that take place at this conference do not necessarily
happen around this table. It’s the discussions that go on in the hallways, the friendships
and the contacts that are made here at this conference, that foster economic
relationships.</p>
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<p>Average economic growth rates are promising. But the challenge here is to maintain the
right balance of appropriate policies to ensure sustainability while addressing the
vulnerabilities that still exist. Maintaining—and developing when necessary—an
enabling environment for growth is a key priority. So is expanding trade opportunities
and trade liberalization to boost growth. As a trade-oriented economy, Canada is
committed to advancing trade and investment liberalization through the hemisphere,
bilaterally and in the context of the Free Trade Area of the Americas.</p>
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<p>And third, a third key area of focus is to ensure that the benefits of democracy and
economic growth reach all our citizens. That is to say that there is not a concentration of
wealth, that nobody is excluded or left behind. This entails paying particular attention to
groups at risk. I think of our Aboriginal people, our First Nations people in Canada. We
have to make sure that they are included and embraced, that they are brought into the
discussion—always—because the full realization of human potential enriches our
societies. It strengthens our democracies and ensures that the benefits and growth that
take place in our economies reach all citizens.</p>
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<p>In addition to having a clear focus for our cooperative efforts, we need an agreed
understanding on how to move forward to the next Summit. This includes maintaining
the practice of periodic and public national reports to share the progress we are making
at the national level on Summit objectives.</p>
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<p>It also means supporting the work of Summit partner institutions under the coordination
of the Organization of American States, including the Inter-American Development
Bank, the Pan American Health Organization and the Institute for Connectivity in the
Americas, to name but a few. Their contribution is critical to achieving real and
measurable progress on the balanced agenda for the hemisphere.</p>
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<p>We should also consider at what point we should move toward an increased focus on
preparations for the next Summit of the Americas in 2009, in order to build and sustain
momentum toward that occasion. We are moving in a positive direction with progress
and confidence, but we don’t want to lose the momentum that is building from this and
previous gatherings.</p>
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<p>The Ministerial Meeting of the Summit Implementation Review Group has a key
leadership and steering role to play in ensuring the success and future of the Summit
process. I hope that today we can fulfill this role and begin to chart a course toward our
next meeting. As we move forward, I wish to reiterate Canada’s full support,
cooperation and commitment to the Summit of the Americas for the benefit of all our
peoples.</p>
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<p>Thank you.</p>
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