The Objectives of the Summit of the
Americas
March 27, 2001
Now, more than ever before, Canada’s future is
linked with that of the Americas. Our prosperity and our security depend in
large part on the democratic and economic stability of our neighbours in the
hemisphere.
In this spirit, Canada has been committed for
over 10 years to the process of bringing the countries in the hemisphere closer
together. The Summit of the Americas in Quebec City is a new phase – the most
important so far – in that process.
Canada has prepared an agenda which reflects the
concerns and interests of all Canadians. Thus, the 34 participating countries
will discuss the means we have at our disposal to strengthen democracy, create
prosperity, and realize human potential throughout the hemisphere.
- Strengthening democracy: Closer integration
in the Americas must go hand in hand with strengthening democratic processes
and institutions and enhancing their credibility. This will involve
promoting human rights and basic freedoms, justice, security of citizens and
hemispheric security.
- Creating prosperity:
The focus will be on ways to distribute wealth more fairly within the
Americas. This will involve trade and investment, economic and
financial stability, the environment, labour, prevention
of natural disasters and equitable growth. The Free Trade Area
of the Americas is at the core of this process, as it is the key to
greater prosperity and a better quality of life for all citizens in the
hemisphere.
- Realizing human potential:
In the Americas and elsewhere, progress hinges on our most precious
resource, citizens. They must therefore be provided with the means necessary for their prosperity and their success, socially, economically
and politically. In this regard, health, education and training are key
priorities, as are cultural diversity, gender equality, Aboriginal
peoples and youth.
Moreover, the information revolution has
created disparities within the Americas that we must try to alleviate as quicky
as possible by promoting connectivity, using information and communications
technologies, both traditional (television, radio, telephone) and digital.
We believe that a genuine commitment to
development can and must include not only efforts to meet basic needs,
but also an action plan enabling everyone to participate in the knowledge
economy.
When possible, we need to integrate
information and communications technologies into all hemispheric initiatives.
Canada’s objective is to ensure a fairer distribution of opportunities
through connectivity, and to make it an engine of economic, social and
political development in all countries in the hemisphere.
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