Liberal International Trade Critic Scott Brison today launched a series of pan-Canadian consultations being held in the lead-up to Canada at 150: Rising to the Challenge, a non-partisan conference to be held in Montreal in March 2010. Today’s roundtable, on the subject of international trade, draws on a variety of distinguished speakers and presenters including opening remarks by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and a keynote address by former Prime Minister Joe Clark.
“The participants of today’s roundtable share a common purpose: to strengthen Canada by improving our trade relationship with the world,” said Mr. Brison. “These are not partisan goals, but Canadian ones. I thank all our participants for taking part in such a crucial conversation as our rapidly changing world economy hangs in the balance.”
Featuring an impressive list of distinguished speakers and presenters, this day-long conference will address the important trade relationships between Canada and the United States, China, and India as well as free trade negotiations with the European Union. Former Prime Minister Joe Clark and Canadian Council on Africa President Lucien Bradet will also co-host a special discussion on trade with Africa.
“In bringing together an impressive list of experts, academics and politicians from varied backgrounds, Scott has taken the first step in a broad pan-Canadian consultation,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “In forums like this one, in town halls, on university campuses, on the web and at the conference in Montreal, we want to have a national conversation about the Canada we can be in 2017 – our country’s 150th birthday.”
In the tradition of the Kingston and Aylmer Conferences of 1960 and 1991, Canada at 150 will take on the challenges we face by asking not only what we want our country to be, but also what concrete measures we need to take to get there. Though the conference itself will be held in Montreal from March 26-28, 2010, it will be part of a broader national discussion involving online consultations, town hall sessions and roundtables like the one held today.
