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"THE HONOURABLE STÉPHANE DION STATES THAT MARKET GLOBALIZATION IS ANOTHER
ARGUMENT
IN FAVOUR OF A UNITED CANADA"
SAINT-LAURENT, QUEBEC, Mars 30,
1999 – The Honourable Stéphane Dion, President of the Privy Council and
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, told the Saint-Laurent Chamber of
Commerce today that the opening of markets and international agreements are
arguments in favour of a united Canada. "The more important the opening of
markets and international agreements are to our economy and our quality of life
in general, the more crucial it is that we be able to count on a united
Canada," he stated.
Minister Dion highlighted access to
the U.S. market as one of the economic advantages of a united Canada. Reviewing
different stages of Canada's trade history, he responded to Quebec’s Deputy
Premier and Minister of State for the Economy and Finance, Mr. Bernard Landry,
who maintains that the Canadian federation has hindered the natural north-south
development of Quebec's economy.
"On the contrary, it is the
Canadian federation that has enabled us to overcome U.S. protectionism without
being absorbed by the United States and suffering the fate of Francophones in
Maine or Louisiana," the Minister stated. In this context, Canadian unity
is proving to be just as necessary now as it has been in the past, if not more
so.
Mr. Dion noted that Canada is the
United States' biggest trading partner, far ahead of Japan and almost as
important as the whole of the European Union, with exports of goods and services
totalling close to a billion dollars a day. Last year alone, the two countries
traded C$564 billion in goods and services.
This reality allows Canada to exert
a strong influence on our neighbour to the south and gives it substantial
bargaining clout on the international scene, just one of the assets that a
province separated from Canada would not enjoy. Highlighting the importance of
Canada's diplomatic network, which helps to facilitate trade ties between the
two countries and to make Canada's views known, Minister Dion noted that
Canada's influence also extends to numerous international forums.
Mr. Dion also pointed out that a
separated and weakened Quebec would not have any automatic guarantee of
accession to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which would require a
reopening of negotiations with the different signatory countries to the
Agreement, a scenario which would not be in anyone's interest.
The Minister also mentioned the
close economic ties between Quebec and the rest of Canada, noting that,
"The flow of goods between provinces is 12 times greater than that between
Canada and the U.S., once the factors of size and distance are taken into
account, and the flow of services is 40 times greater." This strong
integration of the Canadian economy is based on the institutions that Quebec
shares with the rest of Canada and on our national solidarity. "And so
while Canadian unity is necessary to expand our north-south trade, it is no less
essential to our east-west trade," Minister Dion stated.
"The spokespersons of the
independence movement have announced that they will spend this year renewing
their thinking on the why and the how of Quebec’s secession from Canada. They
have said that the challenges of globalization will be at the heart of their
reflection. Well, we’re ready to debate that, just as I have done here today.
In point of fact, globalization makes Canadian unity, Canadians’ sense of
community, Canadian solidarity, more necessary than ever. Other Canadians need
Quebecers, just as we Quebecers need them to take on these new challenges,"
Minister Dion concluded.
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For information:
André Lamarre
Press Secretary
Telephone : (613) 943-1838
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