Address to a Special Session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States

February 5, 2001
Washington

The first address by a Canadian Prime Minister to the Organization of American States is an important milepost in the embrace by Canada of our hemispheric identity.

A path marked by our decision to join the OAS in 1990. By our presence at the first two Summits of the Americas in Miami and Santiago. By my leading two trade missions to Latin America in 1995 and 1998. By our hosting the OAS General Assembly in Windsor last June. By the meetings of hemispheric ministers of finance, environment and labour that will take place in Canada in the coming months. And by the inaugural meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas in Ottawa in just a few weeks.

In a couple of months, we will take the most important step on our journey, as we welcome the democratically elected leaders of the Americas to Quebec City for the Third Summit of the Americas.

The steps we have taken on our journey have run in parallel with the growing sense that there is more to the Americas than geography. A sense that we are more than just neighbours and friends. We are "Una Gran Familia." Each a proud individual nation to be sure. Secure in our unique identity and sovereignty. But at a higher level, a family. Who share aspirations and values. Who have embraced democracy, free markets and social justice. Who have taken enhancing the quality of life of all of our people as our common cause.

Recently I have spoken to many of your leaders about how we can move ahead on an agenda of human progress and shared prosperity. I will talk to President Bush about it later today. For those listening in Washington and beyond, I would like to outline how Canada sees our agenda unfolding for the Quebec City summit.

Let me begin by acknowledging the serious problems and challenges that stand between us and our goal. But I have unshakeable confidence in our collective resolve to meet them head on. That is, after all, what brought us together in Miami and Santiago, and will sustain us as we move ahead.

The gap between our rich and poor remains too large. And in the new economy, we face the added challenge of preventing a digital divide. Our emerging democracies lack strong institutions. Our social policies have room for improvement.

Many look upon the powerful forces of economic globalization and technological change as the source of these profound problems. But Canada looks upon them as the key to solving them. To creating untold opportunities and shared prosperity from Tierra Del Fuego to Baffin Island.

We should neither fear the challenge of globalization, nor become blinded by its allure. Rather, we must develop the tools so that all of La Gran Familia can reap its full potential. We must, in short, adopt an agenda that puts people first. That recognizes that our citizens can reach their full potential only when their safety is guaranteed, their rights are respected and their access to economic and social opportunities is assured.

In Quebec City, we will do just that. We have taken as our themes three complementary areas: strengthening democracy, creating prosperity and realizing human potential. And we want to harness the information highway to support this agenda. To foster "connectivity" throughout La Gran Familia.

Democracy and the effective rule of law are the guardians of human security. But such security is unlikely to be sustained in conditions of poverty and unequal opportunity. Realizing human potential through effective social policies is the guarantee that will allow democracy and prosperity to flourish.

Democracy has clearly been on the rise in the Americas over the past decade. But its progress has been neither constant nor equal. And in many countries it remains fragile. Canada wishes to see a clear and forceful commitment to strengthening democracy and fostering social inclusion in Quebec City. Which extends to our democratic institutions, our electoral machinery, and the impartiality of justice. To protecting human rights and freedom of expression. To fighting drug trafficking and corruption.

It will mean empowering local governments and safeguarding the rights of minorities, indigenous peoples, migrants and the disabled. And making the strongest possible pledge to promoting the legal, economic and social equality of women and men.

In Santiago, we formally launched negotiations on the Free Trade Area of the Americas. And we challenged ourselves to achieve it by 2005.

The goal of achieving an FTAA by 2005 is one to which Canada is deeply committed – by temperament and history. We understand the connection between freer trade, prosperity and social progress. And we see an FTAA – with increased transparency and clearer rules – as the best way of forging that same connection throughout the hemisphere. For big nations and for small.

By the same token, we understand that it cannot be about trade alone. It is not just a contract among corporations and governments. First and foremost, it is an agreement among – and about – people. It must be holistic in nature. It must include improving the efficiency of financial markets, protecting labour rights and the environment, and having better development cooperation. It must include engaging the private sector, international financial institutions and civil society in a dialogue directed at encouraging greater corporate social responsibility.

These are the sorts of challenges we will be addressing in Quebec.

Canada also believes that progress in strengthening democratic institutions and increasing prosperity in the new economy must go hand in hand with actions to enhance social and economic inclusion. That will increase access to education and skills development. Promote life-long learning. And broaden access to quality health care and effective disease-prevention programs.

And we must achieve this in a way that respects the value of the diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious strands that, woven together, make up the fabric of La Gran Familia.

Canada is also very much focused on bridging the digital divide in the Americas. As the information revolution continues, governments have a pivotal role to play in determining how these new technologies evolve. And in ensuring that their ability to bridge vast distances, expand access to knowledge and increase economic productivity is shared equitably.

In Canada we have taken great strides in this area by forming creative partnerships that have allowed us to connect all of our public schools and communities at relatively low cost.

In many ways, our meeting in Quebec City will be about coming to terms with an increasingly engaged civil society and its concerns over the powerful forces that are shaping our modern world.

Canada believes that openness and transparency are vital to building public acceptance and legitimacy for our undertakings. In preparing for the Summit, Canada has engaged civil society organizations at the national level. We have also promoted regional consultations with committed and serious organizations, including meetings here at the OAS, and establishing web-sites for the sharing of information.

Canada worked hard to make the OAS General Assembly in Windsor a more open event, allowing our citizens to see an historic discussion on the nature of democracy and its status among our membership. We must commit ourselves to working with patience, persistence and reason to build a hemispheric future full of promise. A future that takes account of the concerns expressed by our peoples and the impact that the new forces at work in the global economy are having on our citizens. As host of the first Summit of the Americas in the new millennium, Canada will do its utmost to promote openness and transparency, while ensuring productive discourse among governments.

I wish to conclude today on a note of strong support for the OAS. We can all be proud of its accomplishments. The leadership of Secretary General Gaviria has been inspired and responsive to the wishes of our membership.

The past year has illustrated the relevance of the OAS. From helping to shore up democracy to resolving complicated border disputes. From ensuring electoral fairness to promoting technical cooperation.

More than any other single institution, the OAS will be charged with acting upon the mandates we endorse at Quebec City. To do this it will require a tangible expression of our political will and a commitment to its fiscal health. Our foreign ministers should actively address this issue at this year’s OAS General Assembly in Costa Rica.  

My friends, working with you to make our vision of La Gran Familia of the Americas a reality is a cornerstone of Canadian foreign policy. For many years, the Maple Leaf flag did not hang in this historic room. Canadians felt that our national journey was taking a different path than that of the Americas. Those days are gone... forever.

Let us now journey together into the new millennium. With shared conviction, strength and purpose.

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