Today, I spoke at a trade event hosted by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce where I outlined three opportunities for Canada and the United States to strengthen their relationship.

President Truman once characterized our relationship in these words: “Canada and the United States have reached the point where we no longer think of each other as ‘foreign’ countries. We think of each other as friends, as peaceful and cooperative neighbours on a spacious and fruitful continent.”

This morning, I spoke at the Palm Beach Strategic Forum as part of a panel on energy. I delivered the message that Canada is a secure and reliable source of energy.

Canada has been blessed with a natural resource endowment that is second to none. We are the world’s second largest producer of uranium and the second largest forest product exporter. We are the third largest producer of natural gas and hydro electricity and the sixth largest producer of crude oil. But, Canada’s role as an energy leader is not based on geological accident alone. Our stable political environment, independent regulators and our openness to trade and foreign investment are key components of Canada’s status as an energy superpower.

Ottawa, le 21 mars 2013—Les mesures annoncées dans le budget d’aujourd’hui représentent une réforme de taille qui permettra au gouvernement fédéral de relever le défi des compétences au pays. La Chambre de commerce du Canada accueille positivement l’adoption d’une démarche énergique pour traiter un problème croissant auquel se butent tous les gouvernements du Canada.

« La pénurie de compétences figure en première place de notre liste des 10 obstacles à la compétitivité du Canada, a déclaré Perrin Beatty, président et chef de la direction de la Chambre de commerce du Canada. Ce problème touche toutes les industries d’un bout à l’autre du pays. Nous sommes heureux que le gouvernement prenne des mesures pour s’y attaquer et qu’il fasse directement participer les entreprises à la solution. »

We welcome Canada’s participation in international negotiations on a services agreement.

The services sector is a vital component of the Canadian economy, accounting for approximately 70 per cent of Canadian GDP and nearly four out of five Canadian jobs. We are pleased Canada has joined with other like-minded countries in the negotiation of an international agreement on services. This week, a diverse group of 21 countries are participating in talks in Geneva, Switzerland to reach a new international services agreement. When combined, these countries account for 70 per cent of global trade in services. The last major services negotiation occurred almost 20 years and resulted in the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).