Kyoto Plan Still Does Not Measure Up, Say Canada’s Chief Executives
The Plan unveiled yesterday afternoon by the federal government for meeting Canada’s commitments under the Kyoto Protocol on global climate change will impose huge costs on taxpayers and will fail to meet its goals, say Canada’s business leaders. “Eight years after the Kyoto Protocol was signed and more than two years after its ratification, there has yet to be a clear national discussion about its real impact on Canadians,” said Thomas d’Aquino, Chief Executive and President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE). The CCCE has argued from the outset that the Canadian government accepted a far too ambitious commitment in its embracing of the Kyoto Protocol. “Meeting the Kyoto target would mean cutting emissions of greenhouse gases by more than 30 percent within the next three to seven years. Whether this is done through emission cuts in Canada or combined with the purchase of foreign credits, there are serious consequences […]
A Stronger North America, A More Powerful Canada
Following is an edited transcript of an interview first broadcast on the CPAC television program “Talk Politics” on April 5, 2005. Interviewer Ken Rockburn discusses the work of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America with Thomas d’Aquino, Chief Executive and President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Mr. d’Aquino is the Canadian vice-chair of the Task Force, which on March 14 issued a Chairmen’s Statement calling for the creation of a North American economic and security community by 2010. ROCKBURN: On our show tonight, an international task force says that Canada, Mexico and the United States should consider closer economic integration. It is chaired by a former Mexican Finance Minister, a former American Republican Governor and a former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, John Manley, and it has proposed continental integration on a large scale and the creation of a security perimeter that would encircle […]
Smart Regulation is Key to Competitiveness
Comments by David Stewart-Patterson, Executive Vice President, Canadian Council of Chief Executives, on the announcement of a new federal plan for regulatory renewal: “The Smart Regulation plan announced today by Treasury Board President Reg Alcock provides welcome leadership on an agenda that will play a critical role in spurring innovation, increasing Canada’s competitiveness and improving the quality of life of Canadians. “The Smart Regulation plan is not about regulating less. It is about making government work better to serve the interests of Canadians. Following through on this plan will lead to better protection, lower costs, faster and more predictable regulatory processes, less overlap and duplication, more rapid alignment with global best practices and greater transparency and accountability. “The plan draws heavily on the excellent recommendations of the External Advisory Committee on Smart Regulation, which issued its final report in September 2004. Today’s announcement demonstrates a serious commitment by the federal […]
Trilateral Security and Prosperity Partnership Will Boost Jobs and Investment, Say Canada’s CEOs
The new Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America launched today in Texas by Prime Minister Paul Martin, United States President George W. Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox is a bold step forward that will produce real gains for people in all three countries, say Canadian business leaders. “The comprehensive agenda laid out by the three leaders represents a quantum leap forward for the continent, one that will improve the safety and economic wellbeing of Canadians and of our neighbours in North America,” said Thomas d’Aquino, Chief Executive and President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE). “The new partnership agreement moves the North American agenda forward in a multitude of concrete and practical ways that add up to an ambitious vision for the future of our continent.” The CCCE, which is composed of the chief executive officers of 150 leading Canadian enterprises, launched aNorth American Security and Prosperity Initiative in […]
The policy menu at Texas summit needs red meat, not thin gruel
The following article appeared in the March 21, 2005, issue of The Hill Times. By David Stewart-Patterson When Prime Minister Paul Martin sits down to lunch this week with Mexican President Vicente Fox and United States President George W. Bush at the latter’s ranch in Texas, the food surely will be superb. But what is on the policy menu is the future shape of North America, and the central question is whether the summit produces good red meat or thin gruel. Last week, an independent tri-national task force organized by the influential Council on Foreign Relations laid out some appetizing possibilities. The task force, made up predominantly of leading figures in public life and academia together with people from the private and non-profit sectors, is chaired by former deputy prime minister John Manley, former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld and former Mexican finance minister Pedro Aspe. The task force chairs […]
CBC Commentary by Thomas d’Aquino
CBC CommentaryThomas d’AquinoPresident and Chief Executive, Canadian Council of Chief ExecutivesVice Chair, Independent Task Force on the Future of North America I never cease to be amazed at how any proposal to have Canada strengthen its relationship with the United States provokes a doomsday chorus. We heard it in the eighties. We heard it in the nineties. We are hearing it again today. It is always the same tired rant. It is always the same old group of extreme nationalists. Any deal with the Americans, they insist, will kill our economy, destroy our social programs, wipe out our culture, surrender our resources and erase our very identity. The fact is that open trade on our continent has paid off for Canadians. Our economy has grown by leaps and bounds. Companies are creating more jobs. Exports are booming. Families are earning higher incomes. And governments are taking in record tax revenue. […]
Creating a North American Community
The following statement was issued today by the chairs and vice-chairs of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America. The task force is sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (www.cfr.org) in association with the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Creating a North American CommunityChairmen’s StatementIndependent Task Force on the Future of North AmericaSponsored by the Council on Foreign Relationsin association with theConsejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales and theCanadian Council of Chief ExecutivesJohn P. Manley, Pedro Aspe, and William F. WeldChairsThomas P. d’Aquino, Andrés Rozental, and Robert A. PastorVice Chairs Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, national membership organization and a nonpartisan center for scholars dedicated to producing and disseminating ideas so that individual and corporate members, as well as policymakers, journalists, students, and interested citizens in the United States and other countries, can […]
Trinational Call for a North American Economic and Security Community by 2010
The chairs and vice-chairs of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America today issued a statement calling for a North American economic and security community by 2010 to address shared security threats, challenges to competitiveness, and interest in broad-based development across the three countries. The task force is sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (www.cfr.org) in association with the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Following is the news release issued by the Council on Foreign Relations: Trinational Call for a North American Economic and Security Community by 2010 March 14, 2005-Three former high-ranking government officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States are calling for a North American economic and security community by 2010 to address shared security threats, challenges to competitiveness, and interest in broad-based development across the three countries. Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of […]
Beyond missiles: Canada and the U.S. must push toward the seamless movement of goods, full labour mobility and energy security
The following article appeared in the March 4 edition of the National Post: By Thomas d’Aquino Like many Canadians, I am greatly disappointed by the decision of my government not to participate fully in the development and deployment of the U.S. anti-ballistic missile system. To reject a course of action so manifestly in our national interest is also inconsistent with our long-standing commitment to the defence of North America. It is my hope that this decision will be reversed by a future Parliament, by a Liberal-Conservative coalition if necessary, that will recognize the logic and wisdom of full Canadian participation and that will vigorously make the case for involvement to the electorate. Canada and the United States are proud and sovereign nations and we will continue to pursue independent agendas on many fronts in accordance with the wishes of our peoples. Our destinies, however, are irrevocably linked and we […]
Think Well Beyond Missile Defence Business Leader Tells Audiences in Five U.S. Cities
The chief executive of Canada’s most influential business group has told audiences in five cities throughout the United States that Canadians and Americans “must move with greater clarity, determination and creativity to make the most of the amazing partnership that has been forged over the years.” Addressing groups in Dallas, Tucson, Phoenix, Cleveland and Buffalo, on the first leg of a 10-city speaking and consultation tour, Thomas d’Aquino, Chief Executive and President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) outlined a comprehensive plan and strategy for moving the Canada-United States partnership to the next level. Commenting on the controversial decision of the Canadian government not to participate fully in the development and deployment of the United States anti-ballistic missile system, Mr. d’Aquino said, “On the face of it, this decision does not undermine Canada’s continuing role in NORAD, which in effect acts as the eyes and ears for such a system.” “This having […]
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