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2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996

<html> <head> <meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 10"> <meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <style> p { margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1px } body { font-family: "Arial", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal } </style> </head> <body> October 19, 2007 OTTAWA, Ontario 2007/32 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MAXIME BERNIER, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS  “THE AMERICAS AS A PRIORITY” Tuesday’s Throne Speech touched on many topics, including the need for Canada to stand tall in the western hemisphere.   The speech emphasized how “in our own neighbourhood, Canada is back playing an active role.” I’d like to speak on this theme for the next few minutes. In July, during a visit to the region [Colombia, Chile, Barbados and Haiti], Prime Minister Harper outlined the key elements of our policy. Our objectives are enhancing prosperity, improving security and promoting our fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We need to sustain the momentum generated by the Prime Minister’s trip. We need to develop and deliver a results-oriented strategy to advance Canadian interests. This means three things: First, it means Canada is committed to hemispheric relations that work for everyone. We will work together to strengthen hemispheric security, and build a safer and more secure neighbourhood. We will also work to build stronger, more sustainable economies. Second, it means Canada will play a dynamic role in the hemisphere. We will work with our partners to strengthen and promote those fundamental Canadian values I just mentioned. Third, our government is determined in its long-term commitment to Haiti. We have committed unprecedented financial and political resources to ensure that the international effort there is successful. Prosperity Let me focus on our trade agenda in the Americas for a moment, Mr. Speaker. Canadians themselves are engaged in the region. Canada is now the third-largest investor in the region. Last year, Canadians took more than 2.5 million trips to Latin America and the Caribbean. Now, when Canadians visit the region, they can be confident that Canada is back—and playing an active role. Trade and investment translates into jobs, both in the hemisphere and here at home. Our government wants to ensure that Canadian business has continued access to this growing market. This summer, we launched free trade negotiations with Peru, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, as well as with CARICOM, made up of 15 Caribbean countries. We also hope to complete ongoing negotiations with the Central America Four, comprising El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Mr. Speaker, NAFTA helped Canada strengthen our already close ties with Mexico. This economic arrangement was an important catalyst. I am confident this success can be repeated with like-minded countries in this hemisphere. Mr. Speaker, our goal is to promote enhanced market access and a level playing field for Canadian business in the Americas—and increase opportunities for Canadian entrepreneurs. Security Crime and drugs from the region find their way onto our streets. Security in the neighbourhood equals safety at home. We therefore need to help strengthen security and the rule of law in the hemisphere. We are committed to working with our hemispheric partners to address pandemics and emergency preparedness. Democracy As the Prime Minister has noted, Canada provides a model, a model built on constitutional democracy and economic openness—economic openness combined with social safety nets, equitable wealth creation, and sharing across regions. Canada will play a dynamic role to strengthen and promote our fundamental values. All Canadians beneft when our neighbours embrace freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Advancing our priority As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I am committed to making this priority a success. To this end, I have:   •         had extensive discussions with hemispheric leaders at the UN; •         held meetings with the Mexican Foreign Minister as one of my first engagements as Foreign Affairs Minister; and •         had meetings with leaders from the Central America Four and the Rio Group of foreign ministers. Achieving Canada’s objectives in the region requires a whole-of-government commitment. I’d like to provide a few examples of how our Cabinet is fully participating in this approach. The Honourable Bev Oda, our Minister of International Cooperation, is just back from her visit to Haiti and Jamaica. In Haiti, her visit demonstrated our continued support for reconstruction efforts in that country. And, in Jamaica, Minister Oda met with Prime Minister Golding and Foreign Minister Baugh. Her trips reinforced Canada’s commitment to engagement with the region. Together, we are promoting prosperity, democratic governance and regional security. The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, just signed an important declaration with the Pan American Health Organization to promote a common health agenda for the Americas. Initiatives like this are helping address regional health inequities through governance, and helping manage security risks caused by pandemics and natural disasters. This and similar efforts show Canada is working with its partners to build a safer, healthier hemisphere. The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, opened a workshop on the rights of migrant workers in the Americas. This initiative shows that Canada is serious: serious about building shared prosperity for all citizens of our hemispheric neighbourhood. The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, and his Chilean counterpart signed a memorandum of understanding to develop geospatial knowledge in both countries. This initiative is another building block in the Canada-Chile Partnership Framework. It expands our already close cooperation with a key partner. All the ministers I have just mentioned, Mr. Speaker, are helping raise Canada’s profile in the region. I am delighted by this level of cooperation. Indeed, to succeed, we need to effectively mobilize our respective departments’ resources in support of the strategy. Haiti is perhaps the best example of what we can achieve when we work together in a common effort—both as a government and by exerting leadership with key partners in the hemisphere. During his July visit to Haiti, the Prime Minister announced an increase of our aid to Haiti to $555 million. We will continue to lobby our partners to remain firmly engaged in Haiti. Our goal: to break the cycles of violence and lay the foundation for social, economic and political development in that country. Mr. Speaker, Canada has the influence, the capacity and the responsibility to play a leadership role in the Americas. We are the second-largest developed country in the region. I want to take a moment to commend my predecessor, Minister MacKay, for his work to lay the foundation for our Americas strategy. I will build on what he has already accomplished. Our long-term commitment to the Americas will help generate new jobs, as well as advance our fundamental values of liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Thank you. </body> </html>

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