2001/20 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY

THE HONOURABLE DAVID KILGOUR,

SECRETARY OF STATE (LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICA),

AT THE LAVAL UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE ON

HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION BEYOND FREE TRADE

THE 2001 SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS:

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

QUEBEC CITY, Quebec

April 17, 2001

Introduction: The Past as Prologue

I am pleased to be with you today and to share some thoughts on Canada, the Americas, and the challenges and opportunities presented by the 2001 Summit of the Americas.

Canada's full awareness of the potential of the Americas came slowly. We now realize that we are a nation of -- not just in -- the Americas.

The first challenge Canada had to face on the road to Quebec City was accepting that our destiny -- our future prosperity and stability -- was intimately connected to that of the region.

This has not always been an easy or obvious realization for Canadians. Our eyes have been elsewhere. We have given greater attention to other regions and expended greater efforts in developing our relations with other partners.

A New Direction

Things have changed for the better.

The 1990s was a decade of the Americas for Canada. We joined the OAS [Organization of American States] in 1990. The Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement was signed in 1997. Prime Minister Chrétien led two Team Canada missions to the region in 1998. We hosted the Pan American Games in Winnipeg in 1999, the year we celebrated the fifth anniversary of NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement]. Last year in Toronto, we hosted the Trade Ministerial of the Americas.

We marked a decade of membership by hosting last June's OAS General Assembly in Windsor, Ontario. This was perhaps the most remarkable meeting in the Organization's history, as the region united in defence of democracy in Peru.

Three days from now, we will play host to the largest, and quite possibly the most important, meeting of heads of state and government ever staged in Canada: the 2001 Summit of the Americas.

Canada is honoured to have been chosen to host this Summit. For the leaders of the hemisphere, it will provide an opportunity to make a strong affirmation of their commitment to community by taking practical measures to further a coherent and balanced political, economic and social agenda.

The Preparatory Process

At the OAS General Assembly in Windsor last year, foreign ministers endorsed an agenda for the Quebec Summit organized around three main themes: strengthening democracy, creating prosperity and realizing human potential. They accepted that information and communications technology (connectivity) should be harnessed to achieve these common goals. Further, ministers recognized the need to marshal the resources required to transform commitments into reality.

The challenge we have set for ourselves is to produce a people-centred, focussed and results-oriented Declaration and Plan of Action backed by adequate resources, in order to respond to the hemisphere's most pressing priorities.

The countries that will participate in the Summit have taken up this challenge. I believe we will meet it.

Strengthening Democracy

Promotion of democracy, protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law are central elements of the Summit process. Last year, the OAS stood firmly behind the protection of Peruvian democracy. The communiqué of the Meeting of the Presidents of South America stated that the "maintenance of the rule of law and strict respect for the democratic system" would be a "a condition for participation" in future meetings.

These are great achievements. Nevertheless, we must acknowledge that progress toward democracy has not been uniform. There have been setbacks and much remains to be done.

To develop more stable and free societies in the Americas, it is essential to articulate agreed principles and common values, and to commit to action that will give practical expression to our undertakings. Canada is pressing for inclusion of a "democracy clause" in the Summit Declaration. We will seek explicit endorsement of principles that are at the very heart of the Summit of the Americas process.

I believe we will succeed.

Creating Prosperity

At the 1998 Summit in Santiago, Chile, leaders launched negotiations on the Free Trade Area of the Americas [FTAA] -- an expression of their belief in the dynamism, talent and creative energy of the peoples of the hemisphere.

They were motivated by a shared desire to create wealth, foster growth and enhance the distribution of economic benefits in a system where increased transparency and certainty would provide new opportunities, stimulate increased employment and help promote greater social equity.

As a great trading nation, Canada shares that vision. Almost half of what we produce is exported. Ninety-two percent of those exports go to the countries that will be at the Summit.

This gathering will permit heads of government to review progress toward a Free Trade Area of the Americas, and to assess the way ahead. While trade remains the leading element in the collective effort to promote economic growth and expand prosperity in the Americas, we should be very clear that the Summit is about much more. Indeed, the FTAA is expected to occupy only 15 to 20 minutes of the leaders' time together.

The Summit will underline a commitment to sharing the benefits of growth, as well as addressing corporate social responsibility, financial markets, infrastructure, environment, labour, poverty, disaster management and the problem of inequalities.

We face two challenges here. The first is to ensure that the actions endorsed by leaders will make a positive difference throughout the hemisphere, creating new and better economic opportunities to improve the quality of life for all citizens of the Americas.

Once again, I am confident we will meet this challenge.

The second challenge is getting the message out to those who see the FTAA and the Summit as simply another manifestation of rampant globalization. The problem here is not how to put a "spin" on the issues but rather how to build public confidence in a process that we are convinced will benefit all the people of the Americas. The release of the FTAA negotiating text is a positive first step toward increased transparency and understanding, and one for which Canada can take particular credit.

Realizing Human Potential

At its best, globalization is about interdependence, community and mutual support. It is about helping each other become economically stronger, expand social justice and enhance respect for human rights. It is about respect for human dignity. Canada can rightly stand as a model in this regard; and our commitment to the Summit process reflects our commitment to that agenda.

This means we must make sure that the undertakings forming the social agenda endorsed at the Summit -- principally the action items around the theme of realizing human potential -- are backed by adequate resources and political will. They must be seen to form an integral part of a coherent and balanced Plan of Action, one focussed on people and their quality of life.

Creating new and greater opportunities for people means giving them the tools to realize their potential. Leaders recognized this in Santiago when they called education "the key to progress" for the hemisphere.

The 2001 Summit will promote the empowerment of youth, women, Indigenous peoples, the poor and the disabled -- people who have often been forced to the margins of society. It will help give individuals an opportunity to live with dignity, to realize their full potential and to contribute to the development of their societies.

Special attention must be given to expanding opportunities for people to benefit from the global knowledge-based economy, to increasing access to education and to improving health care throughout the region. Without good health and sound education, we have no future.

The initiatives developed in Quebec City must help all our people benefit from and contribute to the societies in which they live, in a way that recognizes and promotes respect for their social and cultural diversity.

Connectivity

The world is being rapidly and radically transformed by information and communications technology.

Connectivity is a tool, not an end in itself. Canada is proposing that we consider how we can work together to expand the use of new technologies throughout the Americas for the benefit of all -- not just those best placed to take advantage of commercial opportunities.

Canada's experience has shown that we need to look at new and creative partnerships linking the public and private sectors, civil society, the international financial institutions, and regional and international organizations. Co-operation can help ensure equitable sharing of the potential of the new technologies, with their ability to bridge vast distances, expand access to knowledge and increase economic productivity.

We are going to respond to this challenge as well in Quebec City. Leaders will leave the Summit having endorsed a document that will set out both a shared vision and practical orientations for future co-operation.

Big Challenge, Bigger Opportunities

Today I have shared with you an overview of the 2001 Summit and some perspectives on its major challenges. Making our common vision for the Americas a reality will not be easy.

But we are confronting even larger and more important opportunities, which we cannot ignore and must turn into reality. These opportunities not only justify our investment in the Summit, they are sure to repay it handsomely.

Thank you.