May 06, 2005
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Paul Martin today issued the following statement on the occasion of the re-election of Tony Blair as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom:

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Tony Blair on his successful election for a third term.

"Canada and the United Kingdom enjoy a vibrant bilateral relationship, rooted in a common history and shared values. The UK is an important partner for Canada in international forums, and I look forward to continuing to work with Prime Minister Blair on the pressing issues of our times. At the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland in July, we intend to tackle the daunting challenges of climate change and African development. During the UK's EU Presidency in the second half of this year, we will work together to strengthen Canada-Europe ties, particularly to foster trade and investment. These are excellent examples of how Canada and the UK can work together to effect positive change."