Washington CEO Summit Agenda: Friends, Neighbours, Allies – Canada and the United States in a Transforming Global Environment
Six of the world’s leading business organizations today urged member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to save the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), the centrepiece of global negotiations on trade and investment liberalization launched in 2001. “The great hopes for global economic growth and development promised by this trade round are now at serious risk,” chief executive officers and their counterparts from around the world say in a policy statement titled Advancing the Promise of Doha. Richard George, Chairman of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) and a signatory to the statement, said that the six organizations are calling on WTO member governments to make the political commitment necessary to secure a balanced and ambitious agreement in the rapidly closing window of opportunity that remains. “We need renewed dedication and stronger political leadership,” added Mr. George, President and Chief Executive Officer of Calgary-based Suncor Energy Inc. Today’s statement is the first […]
(To download the PDF version of this document, click here.) The following business organizations have authored this paper: Business Council of Australia (Australia) Business Roundtable (United States) Canadian Council of Chief Executives (Canada) Consejo Mexicano de Hombres de Negocios (Mexico) The European Round Table of Industrialists (Europe) Nippon Keidanren (Japan) Executive Summary Only a few months remain for World Trade Organization (WTO) Member Governments to save the Doha Development Agenda. The great hopes for global economic growth and development promised by this trade round are now at serious risk. The global business leaders our organizations represent reaffirm their belief in the significant potential value of these negotiations. We call on WTO Member Governments to make the political commitment necessary to secure a balanced and ambitious agreement in the rapidly closing window of opportunity that remains. We are deeply concerned that the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) is on the verge of […]
The following article appeared in the July 26, 2005 issue of the Ottawa Citizen. By Thomas d’AquinoChief Executive and PresidentCanadian Council of Chief Executives True or false: Canadians are facing unprecedented competition from emerging economies such as China and India, and it is therefore important that we work co-operatively to build a more prosperous future. Most people would probably consider the answer to be obvious. Sadly, Canadian Labour Congress president Ken Georgetti does not seem to be among them. In late June, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) launched an initiative that we call Canada First! Our members, who head most of Canada’s largest enterprises, are deeply disturbed by the extent to which our country’s Parliament has been dominated by jockeying over short-term political advantage rather than serious debate about longer-term national strategy. In Canada First!, we pointed out that we live in a world that is changing with […]
The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) enthusiastically welcomes the decision by federal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale to launch a federal-provincial discussion on reform of securities regulation. “The flow of money around the world is growing with astounding speed. Canadian companies need more efficient access to capital. Canadian markets need to attract greater investment from abroad. Canadian investors need stronger protection and better access to investment opportunities,” said CCCE Chief Executive and President Thomas d’Aquino. “Canada’s current system of 13 provincial and territorial regulators is too fragmented, too costly and too slow to manage change in this global environment. Canada needs a single regulator for its securities markets.” The CCCE recently launched a major initiative aimed at improving Canada’s competitiveness. In a June 2005 statement signed by the Executive Committee, Canada First! Taking the Lead in a Transforming Global Economy, the CCCE highlighted the role of fragmented regulation of securities markets […]
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Our topic, Towards a New Transatlantic Relationship presents us with a mighty challenge, as immense as it is complex. As I will explain in my brief introductory remarks, it is vital that the relationship be strong and that it evolve. Global peace, security and prosperity depend on it. We have been asked to focus on the European Union and the United States and I will do so but first let me explain why a Canadian perspective is important. Very simply, Canada is a transatlantic partner of Europe. Our founding peoples were British and French as are my country’s two official languages. More than 1 million Canadian soldiers have served in European wars and over the past century Canada’s contribution in blood and treasure to the liberalization of Europeans from tyranny ranks, given our size, among the highest of all the allies. Add to this the […]
The chief executives of 150 leading corporations today launched a major initiative aimed at boosting Canadian productivity and positioning the country to compete more effectively in the global economy. “As leaders of Canadian enterprise, we are concerned about the future of our country,” the business leaders say in a 3,700-word declaration titled Canada First! Taking the Lead in a Transforming Global Economy. The statement was released by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) and signed by all seven members of its Executive Committee. In addition to Thomas d’Aquino, the CCCE’s Chief Executive and President, they are Richard L. George, Dominic D’Alessandro, Paul Desmarais, Jr., Jacques Lamarre, Gwyn Morgan and Gordon Nixon, the chief executives respectively of Suncor Energy Inc., Manulife Financial, Power Corporation of Canada, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., EnCana Corporation and Royal Bank of Canada. The statement recognizes that by most economic and social measures, Canada appears to be in good shape. […]
Following is an edited transcript of remarks by David Stewart-Patterson, Executive Vice President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on June 28, 2005. The committee was holding hearings on the International Policy Statement that was released by the Government of Canada in April 2005. The Canadian Council of Chief Executives supports the broad thrust of the International Policy Statement – both its overall strategic direction and its effort to develop a coherent framework across the full range of the country’s activities in trade and investment promotion, diplomacy, development and defence. The critical question for us is whether the government is prepared to act on this blueprint and make the policy and fiscal decisions that are going to be required if we are going to deliver on the policy statement’s goal of having Canada make a […]
(To download the PDF version of this document, click here.) As leaders of Canadian enterprise, we are concerned about the future of our country. We know the importance of good governance, rigorous financial management, continuous development of people and ideas and above all of sound strategy to drive the sustainable growth of our enterprises. We know that Canada needs no less. As an economy, Canada today seems to be in great shape. It is the only major industrialized country enjoying consistent surpluses both in its federal budgets and in its trade and current accounts. Its economic growth has been the best in the G-7 over the past five years, driving the unemployment rate to its lowest levels since the 1970s and producing impressive gains in family incomes, profits and tax revenues. As a society, Canada remains a beacon of hope for the world. Its social services ensure that no one […]
Article published in Diplomat magazine, July-August 2005 By Thomas d’AquinoChief Executive and PresidentCanadian Council of Chief Executives As business leaders, we believe that a successful international policy must accomplish three goals: It must do what is right for Canada; it must do what is right for the world; and it must leverage our country’s strategic advantage as a member of the evolving North American community. The International Policy Statement (IPS) stands up well against these three objectives. The strategic priorities the government has laid out are promising. The challenge now is to transform words into action. If Canada is to live up to the policy statement’s goal of truly making a difference in the world, plenty of hard work and hard choices lie ahead. Canada, for example, has long been a champion of global trade liberalization. It is both a trading nation and a country with a strong multicultural character, and […]
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