Canada’s Economic Action Plan recognized as the path to prosperity for other countries around the world to follow, ministers say
January 26 , 2013 - The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, together with Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird, the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture), along with Canadian industry and business leaders, promoted Canada’s leadership and economic success at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), held from January 23 to 27 in Davos, Switzerland.
“The success of Canada’s Economic Action Plan—and its focus on creating jobs and long-term prosperity for Canadian families—is being recognized around the world as a pro-growth, pro-trade and pro-investment plan for other countries to follow,” said Minister Fast. “Our government is continuing to open new markets to increase Canadian exports around the world, and we are ensuring that the most ambitious trade expansion plan in our nation’s history continues to deliver for workers and businesses.”
During this year’s WEF, the government ministers met with key counterparts, communicated and discussed Canada’s economic success in WEF sessions and hosted pre-Budget consultations with Canadian business and industry leaders.
“Our government’s top priority is the economy, and we are committed to a return to a balanced budget by the end of this Parliament,” said Minister Flaherty. “With one of the lowest net public debt levels of any industrialized country and a banking system that has been lauded for five years in a row as the world’s safest and most stable, we encourage all countries to put their finances on a sustainable long-term path, as we have done, in order to ensure that a global economic recovery takes root.”
“Canadians know that their future prosperity depends on Canada expanding access to new and emerging economic powers in Asia, the Americas, Africa and elsewhere while strengthening economic ties with Europe and the United States,” said Minister Baird. “Canada is pursuing a foreign policy agenda that promotes our interests and values.”
For his part, Minister Paradis stated: “With one in five Canadian jobs linked to exports and one in 10 Canadian jobs linked to foreign investment, our government is actively opening new markets and seeking new sources of international investment. From our strong, stable financial system, low taxes and business-friendly environment to our innovative, well-educated and multicultural workforce, Canada truly provides stability for our trading partners and global investors.”
On the margins of the WEF meeting, Minister Fast also made an active contribution at the World Trade Organization informal ministerial meeting, where he spoke candidly with his counterparts about the future of the WTO, Canada’s expectations and its commitment to continuing to play a leadership role in the multilateral trading system.
In less than six years, Canada has concluded trade agreements with nine countries: Colombia, Honduras, Jordan, Panama, Peru and the European Free Trade Association member states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. In addition, Canada is engaged in negotiations with large, dynamic and fast-growing markets, such as the European Union, Japan, India and the countries that comprise the Trans-Pacific Partnership
For additional details on Canada’s presence at the WEF, please consult Canada at World Economic Forum.
To find comprehensive, multilingual information on Canada’s many investment and business advantages, please see Invest in Canada.
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A backgrounder follows.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Rudy Husny
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-7332
rudy.husny@international.gc.ca
Kathleen Perchaluk
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jim Flaherty
Minister of Finance
613-996-7861
Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080
Margaux Stastny
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Christian Paradis
Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
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