Address by Minister Champagne at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Monterrey

March 17, 2017 – Monterrey, Mexico

Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with the Government of Canada’s communications policy

Thank you for that very warm introduction. 

Good morning. It is an honour for me to be with you today

Buenos días, para mi es un honor estar con Ustedes hoy.

It’s a pleasure to be here with our friends and partners from Monterrey.

I want to extend my appreciation to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and our Consulate General of Canada here for the invitation to speak with you today.

I also want to thank all of you for joining me at this special event.

I spent many years in business before entering politics. So I really enjoy meeting and speaking with people who help to drive the engines of economic growth in our respective countries.

As business people, we know that more trade and more investment mean more economic prosperity and more jobs in both our countries.

In fact, I arrived yesterday from Chile, where Canada, Mexico and other Asia-Pacific nations reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of free and open trade.

The Government of Canada is committed to expanding trade and investment in ways that ensure that all segments of society, both in Canada and abroad, can take advantage of economic opportunities – with a particular focus on women, Indigenous peoples, youth, and small- and medium-sized businesses.

On that note, I very much look forward to my meeting later this afternoon with women business leaders and entrepreneurs from Monterrey and Toronto, and to hearing their ideas on how our two business communities can work together to our mutual benefit.

But right now I’m delighted to have this opportunity to speak with you about Canada’s growing bilateral and commercial ties with Mexico, and where I see things going in the future.

As you know, we are living through some critically important, and somewhat uncertain times, in North America.

The honest truth is that it’s hard to predict what the next few months will bring.

But one thing is for sure: Mexico is one of Canada’s closest friends and economic partners.

We value our political and commercial relationship with Mexico, and we will work closely with Mexico to build a more prosperous North America. 

Today, Canada and Mexico are equal partners in the largest and most dynamic economic region in the world, with a combined trading relationship worth more than C$1.4 trillion, and combined economic output accounting for more than one-quarter of the world’s GDP.

The North American economy can out-compete any region in the world.

Canada is committed to ensuring that this remains the case and that NAFTA remains the great trilateral agreement that it is today.

I delivered that same message to Secretary Guajardo in Mexico City yesterday.

Let me also say that Secretary Guajardo, who I know is from Monterrey, was very pleased that I was visiting his hometown. And I’m very excited to be here and to see first-hand everything that this great city has to offer.

So where do we go from here?

I believe that Canada and Mexico have a solid foundation to build upon.

Spanning close to 75 years, Canada and Mexico share a vibrant, multi-faceted relationship that is characterized by deep people-to-people ties, rich cultural connections and growing trade and investment.

I believe there are many sectors where Canadian businesses can partner and help Mexico meet its needs.

The booming auto sector, for example, is a key driver of the Nuevo Leon and Northern Mexico economies, and there are great opportunities for companies that supply the components used in assembling cars.

Many Canadian companies are already present here, including Magna, Martinrea, Linamar and DBG.

We also have a world-class agriculture and agri-food sector, which is well-placed to take advantage of incredible opportunities right here in Nuevo Leon.

This region also holds great potential for Canada’s world-leading green and clean technologies sector.

The same is true for our telecommunications and service sectors.

That is just a small sample of some of the areas in which our businesses excel.

There are also Mexican businesses that are finding out first hand some of the best that Canada has to offer. These include Grupo Alfa and its subsidiaries, Vitro and Villacero, to name just a few. 

I know that Monterrey is one of the most vibrant and dynamic cities in Mexico, and that Metropolitan Monterrey is the industrial hub of the north.

The Government of Canada has long recognized the importance of this industrial, educational and commercial centre, as well as the important role that the local chapter of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce plays in helping to strengthen our commercial ties.

I’m very pleased to note that the Chamber is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, and our Consulate General will be celebrating its 25^th anniversary next year.

It is through that kind of cooperation at the government and business level that our people-to-people connections have become so strong.

And there is much more we can be doing together, so much untapped potential.

The Government of Canada strongly believes that innovation is the path to growth that benefits everyone during this time of great change.

Innovation opens both developed and developing countries to new economic, social and environmental possibilities.

In line with this, investments in science, technology and education are one of the most critical sources of economic transformation here and in Canada.

That is one reason why our leaders agreed during last year’s state visit that, while collaboration between our countries is already extensive, now is the time to do more – to bring our students together, to deepen our education and business relationships, and to create sustainable economic growth for all of our citizens.

Mexico is also Canada’s 10^th-largest source country of international students.

Canada hosted over 5,100 Mexican students in 2015, many of whom came from Monterrey and Northern Mexico.

Academic and cultural ties are essential components of our relationship.

There is a significant amount of academic collaboration and exchange currently happening, supported by more than 400 signed agreements between Canadian universities and Mexican universities and technical institutes.

We enjoy strong ties with the prestigious universities established here in Monterrey.

Tec de Monterrey, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Universidad de Monterrey and Universidad Regio-montana have all been great partners with whom we work to invest in our youth and our future through academic cooperation and exchanges. 

They also offer great opportunities to advance Canada’s progressive trade agenda, for example through programs that help women entrepreneurs better achieve their full potential.

During the visit of President Pena Nieto to Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau announced our government’s intention to lift the visa requirement for Mexican visitors – and we made good on that promise in December.

Our leaders also witnessed the historic signing of a memorandum of understanding on Indigenous cooperation that will allow our countries to share experiences, knowledge and best practices.

For my part, I am very happy to attend the re-inauguration today of the Canadian Inukshuk in Monterrey’s Parque Fundidora, where it has been restored to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation and the strong bonds of friendship between Canada and Mexico.

I also welcome the wonderful news that a second Inukshuk was built this week at the Museum of Desert in Saltillo..

Friends, the relationship between Canada and Mexico is based on a deepening strategic partnership that holds renewed potential for both countries.

The Government of Canada’s priority is to create jobs, increase prosperity and preserve and strengthen the financial security of Canadians.

And we think Mexico is a big part of this picture. 

We also know that Canada contributes greatly to Mexico’s economic success.

Our two countries have a strong relationship that is poised to grow further in the years to come.

We are excited about what the future will hold and know that we can count on your support to get us there.

Thank you. Muchas gracias.