Notes for a Speech by Thomas d’Aquino to the World Affairs Council in Denver, Colorado

April 7, 2004

The following is an excerpt from notes for a speech by Thomas d’Aquino, President and Chief Executive of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE),  to the World Affairs Council in Denver, Colorado, April 7, 2004:

“In a few weeks, Prime Minister Paul Martin and President George W. Bush will sit down in Washington to discuss relations between our two countries. When they do, I hope they will consider what polls have been telling us for some time: that 15 years after the launch of the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement, a strong majority of citizens in both countries not only support freer trade, but want more of it.

“In Canada, we’ve seen a remarkable transition in public opinion since the early 1980s. Canadians once approached big ideas on this front with trepidation. Today, however, we are confident that neither stronger economic ties with the United States nor a common security agenda will imperil our political sovereignty, our social values or our cultural vitality. Canadians understand that sovereignty is not an abstract goal, but a tool to be used in serving our interests and doing our duty as citizens of the world.

“In the short term, governments on both sides of the border will be preoccupied with winning new mandates. Once the dust has settled, however, we believe that Canada must be ready to move quickly with a proposal that can win support in both the White House and Congress. That is why, earlier this week, we released a paper called New Frontiers that puts forward what we believe are the essential elements of an ambitious but realistic Canadian strategy for building a 21st century partnership with the United States – a strategy that consists of reinventing borders, reducing regulatory differences, ensuring resource security, reinvigorating the North American defence alliance and developing new cross-border institutions to manage the deepening Canada-United States relationship.

“Much work remains to be done and many significant issues will have to be resolved, but already the feedback from leading academics and strategic thinkers in both Canada and the United States has been extremely positive. This tells us that we are on the right track in arguing that Canada’s approach cannot be fragmented and incremental. Rather, it must be comprehensive and coherent – a strategy that brings our two countries together both in enhancing the economic competitiveness of North America and in ensuring the defence and security of the continent we share.

“Canadians know from our experience in negotiating the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement in the 1980s that complex and comprehensive negotiations take time. They also depend on a strong working relationship at the top – and I am confident that the forthcoming meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Martin will provide the essential foundation for launching a vigorous discussion on the best path forward in strengthening the unique relationship between our countries.”

To download a copy of New Frontiers, please click here.