Think Well Beyond Missile Defence Business Leader Tells Audiences in Five U.S. Cities

March 3, 2005

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 been said, like many Canadians, I am greatly disappointed by the decision of my government to reject a course of action so manifestly in our national interest and so consistent 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.”

The agenda of opportunities before the two countries goes well beyond missile defence, Mr. d’Aquino said. He elaborated on a five-point strategy that includes:

1. moving beyond border management to a true reinvention of North American borders and eventually to a full customs union;

2. maximizing economic efficiencies among industries and regulatory structures to enhance growth and job creation in a North America facing tough challenges from China and other emerging economic powerhouses;

3. building on the already deep energy and resource interdependence between Canada and the United States to further consolidate the security of access and supply equation;

4. expanding military cooperation beyond NORAD to a multi-service North American Defence Command; and

5. creating new consultative institutions that would give greater coherence to thinking and acting on priority issues of concern to both the United States and Canada.

Given the security and economic challenges facing the two countries, Mr. d’Aquino, a long-time champion of free trade, said that it is high time to put an end to interminable trade quarrels that are eroding Canada-United States solidarity and understanding. “The long-running battle over softwood lumber is now in its third decade, a sad tale of special interest greed time and time again finding ways to twist the rule of  law. The United States lumber industry has become the poster boy for egregious abuse of trade rules.”

“Canada and the United States have become so heavily inter-connected that we simply cannot afford to keep fighting each other.  The kind of never-ending squabble that we have endured over softwood lumber adds to business and consumer costs on both sides of the border.  More ominously, it is threatening to undermine our ability to trust each other and to work together effectively across the broader trade relationship. In one way or another, we have got to crack this nut.”

In anticipation of a likely meeting later this month of President George W. Bush, Mexican President Vicente Fox and Prime Minister Paul Martin, Mr. d’Aquino said, “The summit offers the three leaders a timely opportunity to set a bold and visionary agenda for North America at a time when all three countries face strong challenges on both the security and economic fronts.”

Copies of Mr. d’Aquino’s speaking notes can be downloaded from the CCCE’s website.

The CCCE was the Canadian private sector leader in the development and promotion of the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement during the 1980s and of the subsequent trilateral North American Free Trade Agreement. Founded in 1976, the CCCE is composed of the chief executives of 150 leading Canadian enterprises. Member chief executives head companies that collectively administer close to $2.5 trillion in assets, have annual revenues of more than $600 billion and account for a significant majority of Canada’s private sector investment, exports, training and research and development.

In addition to Mr. d’Aquino, the members of the CCCE’s Executive Committee are: Chairman Richard L. George, President and Chief Executive Officer of Suncor Energy Inc.; Honorary Chairman A. Charles Baillie; and Vice-Chairmen Dominic D’Alessandro, Paul Desmarais, Jr., Jacques Lamarre, Gwyn Morgan and Gordon Nixon, the chief executives respectively of Manulife Financial, Power Corporation of Canada, SNC-LAVALIN Group Inc., EnCana Corporation and Royal Bank of Canada.