Background

On August 20 and 21, 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper will host the North American Leaders' Summit. The President of the United States, George W. Bush, and the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, will join the Prime Minister in Montebello, Quebec, for the third meeting of this kind.

Canada, Mexico and the United States have long worked together as continental neighbours, sharing a common geography and environment. Shared beliefs in freedom and strong democratic values have been the foundation of a healthy, constructive and vibrant relationship. The 2007 North American Leaders' Summit is the third in a series of meetings between the leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The Montebello Summit will be an important opportunity for the Prime Minister and the Presidents of Mexico and the United States to discuss issues of concern to the three nations. Building on a long history of successful cooperation between our countries in a wide range of areas including the environment, labour, education, transportation, health and energy, Leaders will take stock of progress and set the direction for the future. In an increasingly global economy, the leaders will continue to focus on ways to enhance the place of North America in the world and ensure the safety and quality of life of its citizens.

The leaders will also take this opportunity to review accomplishments under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), one of the many important elements of Canada's positive and productive relationship with its continental neighbours, and chart a course for its future. They will review priorities identified at their Cancun meeting in 2006 and meet with members of the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC) to hear their views on how North America can be more competitive on the world stage. For more information on the SPP and the NACC, visit the Government of Canada SPP website at www.spp-psp.gc.ca.

The ever-evolving global landscape means that issues of the day are continually shaped and altered by world events. The North American Leaders' Summit will provide an appropriate forum for open and in-depth exchanges on current global issues of interest to Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Finally, geographical and historical realities mean that some North American issues are primarily bilateral in nature. The Summit will also be an opportunity for leaders to meet on a bilateral basis to talk about these issues.