October 1, 2013 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Ambassador to France, today issued the following statement during Ambassador Cannon’s visit to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon from September 30 to October 1, 2013:
“This visit is a tangible demonstration of Canada’s efforts to work effectively with France in bringing about closer cooperation between Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and Atlantic Canada for the benefit of both populations. It is also in line with the Canada-France Enhanced Cooperation Agenda, which was agreed to by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and France’s President François Hollande in June 2013.
“The program calls for strengthening economic cooperation between Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and the Atlantic provinces, along with that between our two countries. Specific objectives include making progress on phytosanitary recognition and protocols on the environment and the protection of species, as well as working toward the entry into force of an agreement relating to the exploration and exploitation of transboundary hydrocarbon fields.
“As a group of small islands located just off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon benefits from collaboration with Canada in many areas, including through regional economic integration facilitated by the Joint Cooperation Commission. While cooperation with Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is important to Canada, we consider Canada’s continental shelf a matter of national interest.”
Ambassador Cannon is in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to meet with local people and authorities to discuss ways to further develop regional economic opportunities.
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