Beyond Free Trade – A Canada-United States Partnership for Security and Prosperity – An Address by Thomas d’Aquino
(To download the PDF version of this document, click here.) The following text served as a basis for remarks to audiences in Dallas, Tucson, Phoenix, Cleveland and Buffalo between February 24 and March 3, 2005. The audiences included the World Affairs Council of Greater Dallas; the Greater Tucson Economic Council; Arizona State University and The Garvin School of International Management, Thunderbird, Phoenix; the Cleveland Council on World Affairs; and Canisius College, Buffalo. This five city speaking and consultation tour by Mr. d’Aquino is the first leg of a ten city initiative in the United States planned for 2005. Mr. d’Aquino chairs the Canadian Council of Chief Executives’ North American Security and Prosperity Initiative launched in 2003. In 1988, Canada and the United States took a “leap of faith” into a comprehensive free trade agreement. Almost two decades later, the fears of the skeptics have been demolished, and both Canadians […]
Business Leaders Welcome Budget Commitments on Prudence, Taxation and Canada’s Role in the World
While expressing concern about the overall rate of spending growth in the federal budget tabled yesterday by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) welcomes its bedrock commitment to fiscal prudence, its recognition of the importance of more competitive tax rates and its allocation of significant new resources to Canada’s military and international presence. “Sound fiscal policy, debt repayment and tax cuts have been key drivers of the strong economy that has enabled the government to make so many commitments to improving the quality of life of Canadians. We need to keep reinvesting in our economy in order to sustain these commitments, and the budget takes some important steps in the right direction,” said CCCE President and Chief Executive Thomas d’Aquino. Key elements of the budget include: Competitive taxation Competitive corporate tax rates are the most cost-efficient way for governments to attract business investment and create jobs. The […]
Comments by David Stewart-Patterson on Today’s Federal Budget by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale
The following are comments by David Stewart-Patterson, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), on the 2005 Federal Budget tabled today in the House of Commons by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale: “The biggest concern for business leaders is the overall rate of spending growth. Much of the new spending is going to meet very important priorities, from improving health care to strengthening our armed forces. But overall program spending is up by 12 percent this year and has grown 44 percent over the past five years. I doubt that many Canadians have seen their paycheques rise that fast, and unless Canada continues to enjoy strong economic growth, I am worried that the government may not be able to sustain the many commitments it has made to improving social programs. “I am encouraged that the government has recognized the importance of a competitive tax regime, and in particular of keeping […]
Perspectives, Winter 2005: Excerpts from recent speeches by members of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives
Perspectives, Winter 2005: Excerpts from recent speeches by members of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives
The Immigration Advantage: How Multiculturalism Helps Canada Compete
Formerly known as the Canada Student Leadership Conference, Withinsight is an annual event that promotes an exchange of ideas between the current leaders of Canada and youth who are leaders in their communities and academic institutions. Thank you for inviting me to join you today to talk about how Canada can achieve its global potential and our leadership role within the international business community. I believe that a country’s economic potential flows above all from its human capital, from what its people can do and want to do. I therefore would like to spend most of my time today talking about how Canada’s multiculturalism helps Canada compete in the global economy and why honing our immigration advantage may critical to achieving our national potential. First, though, I would like to say a few words about my organization, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, and what we have done and are […]
Seizing Opportunity – Priorities and Challenges for Canadian Business Leadership in 2005
(To download the PDF version of this document, click here.) The earthquake and tsunamis that struck much of South and Southeast Asia on December 26 reminded us that the most devastating events can be completely unexpected. We all do our best to plan for the possibilities we can imagine. When the unexpected strikes, we move as quickly as possible, as countries and as a global community, to cope with the results and repair the damage. But every day, in every sphere of human activity, we cannot escape the risk of the unknown. When I spoke to you a year ago, Canada had endured a series of unexpected shocks including SARS and BSE, a major blackout, forest fires and a hurricane. As severe as these seemed to us at the time, we dealt with the consequences and by the beginning of 2004, our economy seemed poised for a welcome rebound. A […]
Business Leaders Urge Prime Minister to Forge Closer Ties in Asia
On the eve of Prime Minister Paul Martin’s visit to tsunami-stricken South and South-East Asia, Canada’s business leaders have written to the Prime Minister encouraging him in his efforts to seek closer trade, investment, social, cultural and security ties with countries throughout Asia. “The members of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) join me in expressing our sympathy for those affected by the disaster and our determination to do our part in rebuilding, both in the short term and over the long haul,” CCCE President and Chief Executive Thomas d’Aquino says in the letter. A copy of the letter is available from the CCCE’s website. Beyond providing humanitarian aid, one of the most effective ways that Canada can contribute to improvements in the quality of life of people in South and South-East Asia is by enhancing its trade and commercial ties with the region, Mr. d’Aquino said. “Your meetings with public and private […]
Letter to the Prime Minister Regarding His Official Visit to Asia, January 15-23, 2005
Letter to the Prime Minister Regarding His Official Visit to Asia, January 15-23, 2005
Canadian Council of Chief Executives Condemns Latest Decision in Softwood Lumber Dispute
Comments by Thomas d’Aquino, President and Chief Executive of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives(CCCE) and a leading private-sector architect of the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement, following yesterday’s decision by the United States Department of Commerce to maintain trade duties on Canadian softwood lumber at rates higher than specified in a preliminary ruling last summer: “This latest decision in the long-running softwood lumber dispute is both exasperating and deeply disappointing. For more than two decades, a narrow sector of the United States economy has fought relentlessly to restrict imports of Canadian softwood lumber. Time and again, Canadian producers have won favourable rulings under the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization – and yet the United States has persistently chosen to disregard these decisions. To compound matters, the Department of Commerce keeps changing the rules, just as it did yesterday by imposing a revised duty rate based […]
Competitive Taxation and Smart Regulation: Creating a Climate for Innovation and Growth
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this committee, together with my colleagues John Dillon, Vice President Regulatory Affairs and Legal Counsel, and Sam Boutziouvis, Vice President Policy and Director of Research, to offer the perspective of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) on the topic of industrial strategy. A review of Canada’s industrial strategy has to start from the assumption that we have been doing something right in recent years. Canada is enjoying large trade and current account surpluses. Our pace of economic growth and job creation is among the best in the industrialized world. Having cut personal and corporate tax rates, the federal government is raking in record tax revenue and boosting social spending to new highs. However, Canada cannot take the good news of recent years for granted. New powers such as China and India are generating fierce competition in selling goods and services and […]
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