10 August 2009
Guadalajara, Mexico
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement at the closing of the 2009 North American Leaders’ Summit:
“First of all, I would like to thank President Calderon and the Mexican people for their hospitality. Thank you also to President Obama for our candid and constructive exchanges on our priority issues. Those priority issues fit into three broad categories: the economy; North American health and security; and energy, environment, and climate change.
“On the economy: because of Canada’s strong record on financial regulation and fiscal management, we provided an informed voice at these meetings. As we approach the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, we continue to emphasize that countries must strengthen financial regulations and institutions, continue to implement timely economic stimulus, and maintain open markets to resist protectionism.
“On North America health and security: we talked about our shared and effective response thus far to H1N1 – a cross-border threat to all of us. The excellent cooperation among our three countries was effective in helping to manage the initial outbreak and of course, we will continue our cooperative efforts.
“On security: Canada recognizes the courageous commitment of President Calderon in taking on the drug traffickers. We are supporting these efforts as it is a shared challenge for all of us in North America. Also, on international peace and security, Canada supports ongoing OAS efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the political crisis in Honduras. We must restore both democratic governance and the rule of law.
“On energy and climate change: given the integrated nature of our economies, we did talk at some length about the importance of working together on a North American approach to climate change and also on doing our best to ensure that out of Copenhagen and going forward, we reach an effective and genuinely international new world protocol on greenhouse gas emissions.
“To conclude, Canada, the United States and Mexico are good neighbours and also good friends. As sovereign countries in a modern world, we are both independent and interdependent. I'm looking forward to seeing both President Calderon and President Obama at the G20, and looking forward to hosting both of you next year at the Leaders’ Summit in our great country.
