Our government is committed to helping Canadian businesses grow, expand and succeed in new markets around the world, says Minister Fast
March 27, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today held the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council for Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan (GMAP) in Ottawa, Ontario.
The GMAP Advisory Council is composed of nine top industry leaders from across the country, representing key sectors of the Canadian economy. The council was created to provide the minister with strategic insight and real-world perspectives to ensure that GMAP continues to reflect the priorities, needs and interests of Canadian businesses, and that the government’s trade plans stay ahead of the curve.
Minister Fast named the following members to the GMAP Advisory Council:
- Dominic Barton, Global Managing Director, McKinsey & Company, Toronto, Ontario
- Derek Burney, Senior Strategic Advisor, Norton Rose Fulbright, Ottawa, Ontario
- James Bruce Flatt, Chief Executive Officer, Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Toronto, Ontario
- Linda Hasenfratz, Chief Executive Officer, Linamar Corporation, Guelph, Ontario
- Donald R. Lindsay, President and CEO, Teck Resources Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia
- Marc Parent, President and Chief Executive Officer, CAE, Saint-Laurent, Quebec
- Brian J. Porter, President and CEO, Scotiabank, Toronto, Ontario
- Ian Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Clearwater Seafoods Ltd., Bedford, Nova Scotia
- Nancy Southern, Chair, President and CEO, ATCO Group, Calgary, Alberta
When GMAP was announced in November 2013, the government committed to developing market access plans in order to provide in-depth information on opportunities and also challenges in priority marketplaces, and to ensure a coordinated effort to help mobilize partnerships across government and the private sector. The GMAP Advisory Council members’ strong knowledge of global economic trends and international trade will ensure that these plans remain relevant to Canadian business needs.
The Harper Government has undertaken the largest trade-expansion plan in Canadian history, supported by historic trade-promotion efforts under the Go Global initiative. The Go Global export workshops are specifically designed to provide Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the tools and practical information they need to take advantage of the new export opportunities available to them. Since the program was launched in November 2014, 12 workshops have been hosted across Canada, attracting close to 1,100 SME representatives.
As part of GMAP, Prime Minister Harper recently announced a total of $50 million over five years in direct financial assistance to Canadian SMEs for market research and participation in trade missions. It is expected that this funding will help between 500-1000 Canadian entrepreneurs per year reach their full export potential.
Additionally, the government recently expanded trade support in China by opening four new trade offices, bringing the total number of offices there to 15, with more than 100 trade commissioners, and strengthened our support in India with eight offices and close to 50 trade commissioners on the ground. Prime Minister Harper also announced last week additional resources for Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service in priority markets.
Minister Fast also announced in November 2014 that more than 25 trade commissioners have been embedded in business associations across Canada in order to gain better insight into the needs of export-oriented industries and coordinate the government’s trade-promotion services.
With GMAP, through economic diplomacy and under a whole-of-government approach to export, the Harper Government has revolutionized Canada’s trade-promotion efforts by ensuring Canadian businesses receive the full range of support and services they need to find real export success in global markets, which creates jobs and opportunities for workers and their families here at home.
Max Moncaster
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
343-203-7332
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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