Media Advisory – Top Canadian Business Leaders Gather in Washington, D.C., April 19-20, 2004

April 16, 2004

Close to 100 Canadian CEOs and invited guests will gather in Washington, D.C., on April 19 and 20 to engage with senior American and Canadian policy makers on a full range of economic, foreign policy and strategic issues.

For the second year in a row, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) is holding its Spring Members’ Meeting in the American capital.  Recognized as Canada’s most influential business organization, the CCCE comprises the chief executives of 150 leading Canadian companies and is committed to the shaping of sound public policy solutions in Canada, North America and the world.

The Canadian business leaders this year will once again benefit from briefings and dialogue with an impressive number of speakers.  The American speakers include:

• Andrew Card, Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush;
• Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton;
• Dr. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor to the President;
• General John Gordon, Homeland Security Advisor to the President;
• Three former United States Ambassadors to Canada:  James Blanchard, Gordon Giffin and Thomas Niles; and
• John Castellani, President, The Business Roundtable.

Among the scheduled Canadian speakers are:

• James Peterson, Minister of International Trade;
• John Manley, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance;
• Michael Kergin, Canadian Ambassador to the United States; and
• Allan Gotlieb, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States.

The Canadian CEOs are meeting in Washington two weeks after the CCCE published a groundbreaking discussion paper titled New Frontiers: Building a 21st Century Canada-United States Partnership in North America.  The paper urges Canadians to adopt a bold vision and a cohesive strategy that will ensure Canada’s continued economic competitiveness at the same time as it enhances the country’s physical security and influence in North America and the world.

To download a copy of the paper click here.

Except for an afternoon reception at the Canadian Embassy on April 19, all sessions of the CCCE meeting will take place at the Willard InterContinental Hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.  Please note, however, that the CCCE meeting is private and closed to media representatives.

CCCE President and Chief Executive Thomas d’Aquino will be available on a limited basis for media interviews during the meeting.  Journalists who wish to schedule interviews should contact Ross Laver, CCCE Vice-President of Policy and Communications, at 613-238-3727 (office) or 613-261-9650 (mobile).