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Address by
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
To a Team Canada West Business
Luncheon
November 30, 2001
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles and California very much embody the tremendous energy and
vitality of the United States. You are blessed with extraordinary cultural
diversity. And you continue rapidly to build on longstanding economic strengths
and to develop new ones by embracing new ideas and the new economy.
In this, California and Canada have much in common. And Team Canada West is
proof.
Western Canada is one of the most dynamic and growing regions of Canada. It
is home to virtually every culture and nationality to be found on the planet. It
is also a region that is very much on the move and in transition. Where
Canadians are working together to build on our incredible wealth in natural
resources, develop world-leading expertise in information and communications
technologies and create an advanced, diversified 21 st
century economy.
It is my great privilege to be the Captain of Team Canada West. Joining me
are the Premiers of our four Western provinces and the leaders of our three
northern territories. Most important of all, we have with us some of our finest
western entrepreneurs. Men and women who are here to showcase their creativity
and know how. To build new relationships and explore new opportunities.
Team Canada West is about doing business. And we have come to Los Angeles at
a time in North America and the world when it is more important than ever that
we continue to do business as usual.
The trauma of the atrocity of September 11, 2001 has renewed and reaffirmed
the friendship between Canada and the United States.
Ours is a friendship of unmatched respect, civility and openness. A global
and hemispheric partnership based on shared values of freedom, justice and human
dignity. Values that, time after time, so many of our sons and daughters have
put their lives on the line to protect and defend.
Ours is also a partnership for prosperity. Based on open markets for trade
and investment and the free and secure flow of goods, services and people.
Across the longest undefended border in the world, we have built a trading
relationship that is unique in value and scope. More than 200 million crossings
of the 49th parallel take place every year. Eighty-seven percent of Canadian
exports go to the United States and 25 percent of all American exports come to
Canada.
Trade between our two countries alone now tops US $475 billion a year. Making
it, by far, the largest trading relationship in the world. Last year Canada
bought more U.S. goods than all 15 countries of the European Union combined and
three times as much as Japan. And 38 U.S. states count Canada as their largest
export market.
As I reflect on the days since September 11 th
I feel I can say that Canadians have responded not only as neighbours, but as
family.
With countless acts of kindness done for the 35,000 stranded American air
passengers who were diverted to Canadian airports when the FAA closed U.S.
airspace. With 100,000 Canadians pouring onto Parliament Hill in Ottawa to
express sympathy and solidarity with the United States.
From the outset, Canada has understood that the attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon were targeted not just on the United States, but against
all civilized peoples and nations. That is why we have undertaken the largest
international deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces since the Korean War in
support of the international campaign against terrorism.
And on a personal note, I want to say how proud all Americans can be of the
leadership in these difficult times of President George Bush. In our many
meetings since September 11 th
I have been deeply impressed by his resolve. On behalf of the people of Canada,
I offer him our support.
The President and I also both understand the broader threat that terrorism
poses to our societies.
For most of our history, we in North America have been fortunate to live in
peace, untouched by attack. That has changed. But we must never forget that the
ultimate goal of terrorists is not to capture us by the force of arms. But by
the force of terror. They don't want to occupy us. They want to shut us down!
Ladies and gentlemen, Canada and the United States will never let this happen!
In Canada, we have taken forceful action. We have passed strong new anti-terrorism
laws. We are funding tougher security measures and enhanced investigation
capacity. The number of police, immigration and customs officers at border
points is being increased. State-of-the-art security technologies are being
quickly brought on line.
We are working on a more comprehensive, longer term security plan. Which will
be ready in time for our Budget the week after next. Our ministers responsible
for public security are working in close cooperation with Governor Ridge. And
the work of our public security committee will continue.
Canada and the United States are also working together to make the
Canada-U.S. border, not only more secure, but more efficient for the purposes of
trade.
Immediately after the attacks, understandable concern for security caused
both of us to tighten our borders. Interrupting the free flow of commerce. In
the days since, President Bush and I have both placed a very high priority on
quickly normalizing the movement of goods and people across our borders.
Our goal is a "smart" border. That is closed to terrorists and
criminals of all kinds. But open, as always, to business and tourism.
With the new focus on our border we have an opportunity and an obligation to
make it work even better than before. And with the increasingly high volume and
velocity of trade that is characteristic of the Canada-U.S. border, the time has
come for both of us, jointly, to make strategic infrastructure investments to
help eliminate bottlenecks at crowded border points and to smooth problems in
key trade corridors. This was necessary before September 11 th
. And it has become even more important since.
The Canadian government is committed to making such investments.
Even as we deal with the new world created by September 11 th,
the Government of Canada will continue to follow the fiscal and economic
policies that will permit business to make their plans with optimism and
confidence. Policies of balanced budgets, falling public debt and lower personal
and corporate income taxes. Which have resulted in low inflation and interest
rates that are at their lowest levels in 40 years. Policies that have positioned
Canada well to weather these uncertain economic times.
We will also continue to make investments that contribute to building our
long term economic strength. In building an advanced infrastructure of knowledge
and skills for our people. And ensuring that all Canadians have a chance to
realize their full potential.
Addressing the problems of the developing world will also continue to be a
Canadian priority. Advanced industrial nations have both a moral obligation to -
and an economic interest in - increasing their development assistance. The
Government of Canada will fulfil that obligation.
Team Canada West is a signal of the resolve of Canada to continue enriching
our partnership for prosperity with the United States. And we have chosen to
come to California because you are, quite simply, one of our best customers. And
vice versa. Last year, your state exported over US $10 billion worth of goods to
Canada and imported about US $16 billion worth. With a range of products and
services that is, indeed, impressive.
Two way tourism is booming. Last year, over one million Californians visited
Canada. And an equal number of Canadians sought out your warmth and sunshine.
Although, according to our statistics, Mr. Governor, the Canadians spent more
money here than the Californians did in Canada. We need to work on that.
Attracted by our highly trained Canadian workforce and our advanced
technology, major California firms, like Litton and Chevron, have established
operations in Canada. While Canadian firms, like Ballard Power Systems and
Methanex, are part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership.
Energy supply is also crucial to our shared prosperity. Here, again, we are
partners.
Canada supplies 26 percent of California's natural gas. Our country is an
important source for oil And, thanks to the timely availability last winter of
BC Hydro, the people of California know that Canada is a very reliable supplier
of electricity.
Another source of strength and opportunity in our relationship is the
increasing integration of our entertainment industries. Canada offers production
locations that are reliable and cost-competitive. Western Canada has the
additional advantage of being close. And many Canadians have found a welcome
home for their creativity and technical know-how in Hollywood.
Ladies and gentlemen, Team Canada West is here to make a relationship that is
already strong even stronger.
In our delegation are the representatives of more than 100 companies from all
sectors of the western Canadian economy. Many of these companies are leaders in
their fields, not just in Canada but globally. They offer outstanding expertise
in agri-food, building products, communications and biotechnology.
They want you to think of Western Canada when you are looking for
cutting-edge ideas and infrastructure. To think of Western Canada as a source of
strategic alliances. Above all, to think of Western Canada as a place to invest
and do business.
On behalf of Team Canada West, I thank you for coming. Now, let's get down to
work.
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