Ministers to Represent Canada at World Economic Forum

News Release

Ministers to promote Canada’s world-class exports, attract job-creating investments and highlight Canada’s global leadership during annual meeting

January 20, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance, and Industry Minister James Moore will attend the upcoming World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting from January 21 to 24 in Davos, Switzerland.

The ministers will hold bilateral meetings with key international counterparts, as well as with business and civil society leaders, to promote Canada’s leadership on the economy and in promoting global peace and security. The ministers will also lead several sessions related to this year’s WEF’s theme: The New Global Context.

Minister Fast will focus on promoting the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. This historic agreement opens new markets and opportunities for Canadian companies and positions Canada as one of the only countries with preferential access to the world’s largest markets—the United States and Europe. Minister Fast will also participate in a World Trade Organization meeting on the margins of the Forum. Prior to attending the WEF, Minister Fast will lead a trade mission to Italy, where he will build on the Canada-Italy partnership.

Minister Baird’s participation provides an opportunity to raise awareness of Canada’s leadership role on the world stage in fighting for freedom and security around the globe; engage with key counterparts to address and find solutions to global challenges; and demonstrate Canada’s leadership on other priority files, including efforts to fight child, early and forced marriage.

Minister Paradis will promote new and innovative approaches to partnering with the private sector aimed at mobilizing more investment to help alleviate global poverty and improve maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH). MNCH is Canada’s top development priority and is an area in which Prime Minister Harper has demonstrated global leadership since 2010.

Minister Oliver will highlight Canada’s strong and growing economy while promoting Canada as an investment destination of choice. He will also participate in bilateral meetings with representatives of the financial sector and other business leaders, as well as with his international counterparts, to discuss issues related to the global economy and G-7 and G-20 priorities.

Minister Moore will showcase Canada’s strong record of attracting investment, as well as the Harper government’s economic policies that make Canada the number one country in the world in which to do business. He will meet with global business leaders and international counterparts to discuss Canada’s investment climate, support for innovation and the digital economy.

Quick Facts

The WEF annual meeting is a unique international platform that brings together more than 2,500 of the world’s top leaders and decision makers from government, business and civil society.
Canada will be represented by more than 40 representatives of government, private sector and stakeholder groups.
For the seventh consecutive year, the WEF has rated Canada’s banking system as the world’s soundest.

Quotes

“The year 2014 was a successful one for international trade in Canada, benefiting hard-working Canadians in every region of the country. Under Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan, we will continue our vigorous trade promotion efforts to boost our exports and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses. At the World Economic Forum and in other venues throughout 2015, we will continue to focus on creating new jobs and prosperity for Canadians.”

- Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade

“This forum is an important opportunity to promote Canada’s values and interests with key allies and partners. In an increasingly interconnected world, we believe our freedom, prosperity and security depend on being active on the international stage. That’s why my colleagues and I will be promoting Canada as a reliable and dynamic partner for trade and investment.”

- John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“Accelerating private sector-led, sustainable economic growth is our most effective tool for eradicating poverty around the world. We need to look at new approaches to mobilizing investment for maternal, newborn and child health, and for development. Through these approaches, Canada will use its world-leading expertise in innovative financing to help developing countries grow their economies more sustainably, manage their resources more responsibly and build tomorrow’s markets for trade and investment.”

- Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

“Today, and for some time now, Canada has experienced one of the strongest records among the advanced economies. Our real GDP is significantly above pre-recession levels—the best performance in the G-7. Both the International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development expect Canada to be among the strongest-growing economies in the G-7 over 2014 and 2015.

“The World Economic Forum itself has rated Canada’s banking system as the soundest in the world for the seventh year in a row in its annual Global Competitiveness Report. Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings, Standard and Poor’s and DBRS have all reaffirmed their top AAA rating for Canada. KPMG has concluded that Canadian corporate taxes are 46 percent lower than in the U.S.

“This paints a picture of a very attractive environment for business, manufacturing, trade and investment. The World Economic Forum is an ideal venue for showing what Canada has to offer.”

- Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance

“Canada is one of the most attractive countries in the world in which to do business, with lower taxes, balanced budgets, less debt, freer trade, a skilled workforce and modern digital policies. I look forward to meeting with my counterparts and business leaders at the World Economic Forum to promote Canada’s economic and competitive advantages.”

- James Moore, Minister of Industry

Associated Links

Contacts

Max Moncaster
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
343-203-7332

Maxime Robert
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-6238
maxime.robert@international.gc.ca

Nicholas Bergamini
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-369-5696

Jake Enwright
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Industry
343-291-2500

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @Canada_Trade, @CanadaFP and @DFATD_Dev
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Stéphanie Rubec
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-369-4000

Media Relations
Industry Canada
343-291-1777
media-relations@ic.gc.ca

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Ministers to Represent Canada at World Economic Forum

News Release

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