From August 16-20, the University of Sherbrooke, located in Québec’s picturesque Eastern Townships, conducted its inaugural summer conference on North American integration and crossborder relations or as I like to describe it, the US-Canada-Québec triangle, with over 60 students exploring the relationships between the two countries and specifically the implication for Québec.
The conference had guests from both sides of the border and concentrated on the political climate in the U.S., cooperation on security matters, overall trade issues, and the potential of our energy resources. I was a guest speaker on day one and the program closed with the joint participation of Premier Jean Charest and Vermont Governor James Douglas, highlighting the latest Vermont-Québec agreement on hydro energy.
All participants viewed the importance of maintaining good ties and reinforcing the trade, investment, and political partnerships. While there are critics on both sides of the border, no one can dispute the nature of our relationship, stated so eloquently by President Kennedy in 1960 and repeated by the conference organizers ever since: “… geography has made us neighbours, history has made us friends, economics has made us partners, and necessity has made us allies.”
We have had our trade disputes and we have not always agreed on foreign policy. But we remain engaged in the promotion of democratic values and providing those less fortunate in need of assistance and foreign aid. This is why our common prosperity supported and developed by numerous cross-border agreements including the Free Trade Agreement of 1989 and later the North American Free Trade Agreement (including Mexico) in 1994 provide us with the economic leverage so necessary today to meet our commitments for a better and fairer world.
The trade partnership between Canada and the U.S. is the largest and most comprehensive in the world. For instance, the eight states covered in the Mid Atlantic region (New York to Virginia) have Canada as their principal export market and overall Canada is the number one market for 34 of 50 states.
On the investment front, the U.S is Canada’s leading foreign investor and Canada is number five in the U.S. Finally, it is important to emphasize that Canada remains a larger market for U.S. goods than all 27 countries of the EU combined. We should not be surprised to note that trade between Canada and the US has grown by 265% since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Clearly, this means jobs for both sides of the border, which is why free trade advocates must remain vigilant against protectionist measures.
Québec has been very much a player in this relationship. Since being a major cheerleader behind the free trade agreements, it has fought hard with its Canadian partners to oppose measures like the Buy American clause included in the U.S. stimulus package.
Earlier this year, the Québec government adopted a five point comprehensive strategy to strengthen ties with the U.S. They include measurable objectives with regards to increased trade, security, renewable energy, cultural matters, and sharing expertise cross border.
We have consistently argued that our energy resources are part of the solutions that our American friends are looking for with respect to a low carbon economy and greater energy independence. And, finally, we intend to be a part of the high speed rail initiative of the Obama Administration as Québec’s Premier Jean Charest indicated to Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, last February.
The bonds of the U.S.-Canada-Québec triangle remain strong and participants seem to have left the meeting in the firm conviction that we continue to have shared interests, shared values and above all, a shared future. Not bad for four days work.
August 27, 2010
August 24, 2010
The Creative Northeast
In an earlier post, I mentioned the high level of economic integration between Canada and the U.S. Components for the aerospace, microelectronics or transportation equipment sectors, for instance, can be sourced in Canada and assembled in the U.S. We also share the world’s strongest economic partnership: in 2009, two-way merchandise and service trade between our countries reached US$ 430 billion – that’s more than $1 billion worth of trade crossing the border every day!
In addition, the dizzying expansion in the use of information technologies has made cross-border collaboration between our knowledge workers much easier by exponentially increasing productivity and squashing distance. For instance, CGI Group, an IT leader headquartered in Montreal, has a network of 107 offices in 16 countries including six offices (and 700 jobs) in New York State.
Richard Florida, a professor at the University of Toronto and the author of the best-seller “The Rise of the Creative Class,” has written extensively on the emergence of creative cities and regions where knowledge workers congregate to live, work and share ideas. A few years ago, BusinessWeek wrote that Montréal and other North American cities have become magnets of knowledge workers and investment because “companies and talent still tend to cluster in areas rich in new tech sources, suppliers, and personal amenities.”
According to the magazine, Montréal’s high concentration of tech graduates, lively arts scenes and low-cost operating environments were among the reasons why the city became a mecca for animation and 3D digital imaging companies.
I believe the Northeast is a creative region. In addition to boasting a high number of university graduates and clusters in the life sciences, finance, green tech and multimedia sectors, the region is densely populated with over 100 million people within a radius of less than 1000 km. Northeast residents also are open-minded and view diversity as an asset.
In a knowledge-intensive economy, the transportation of people should be as important as the transportation of goods. In order to remain competitive, we must ensure there are efficient and quick ways to bring our creative people together so that they continue to create, share ideas and do business. In the creative Northeast, high-speed would be an incredible boost to the region, linking Montréal to Boston to New York to Buffalo to Toronto.
Arguably, in Richard Florida’s terminology, the Northeast meets the criteria for creativity. We now need to make sure our public policies at the federal, state, provincial and local levels, whether on communications policies or the development of infrastructures, continue to nurture cross-border pollination and integration.
In addition, the dizzying expansion in the use of information technologies has made cross-border collaboration between our knowledge workers much easier by exponentially increasing productivity and squashing distance. For instance, CGI Group, an IT leader headquartered in Montreal, has a network of 107 offices in 16 countries including six offices (and 700 jobs) in New York State.
Richard Florida, a professor at the University of Toronto and the author of the best-seller “The Rise of the Creative Class,” has written extensively on the emergence of creative cities and regions where knowledge workers congregate to live, work and share ideas. A few years ago, BusinessWeek wrote that Montréal and other North American cities have become magnets of knowledge workers and investment because “companies and talent still tend to cluster in areas rich in new tech sources, suppliers, and personal amenities.”
According to the magazine, Montréal’s high concentration of tech graduates, lively arts scenes and low-cost operating environments were among the reasons why the city became a mecca for animation and 3D digital imaging companies.
I believe the Northeast is a creative region. In addition to boasting a high number of university graduates and clusters in the life sciences, finance, green tech and multimedia sectors, the region is densely populated with over 100 million people within a radius of less than 1000 km. Northeast residents also are open-minded and view diversity as an asset.
In a knowledge-intensive economy, the transportation of people should be as important as the transportation of goods. In order to remain competitive, we must ensure there are efficient and quick ways to bring our creative people together so that they continue to create, share ideas and do business. In the creative Northeast, high-speed would be an incredible boost to the region, linking Montréal to Boston to New York to Buffalo to Toronto.
Arguably, in Richard Florida’s terminology, the Northeast meets the criteria for creativity. We now need to make sure our public policies at the federal, state, provincial and local levels, whether on communications policies or the development of infrastructures, continue to nurture cross-border pollination and integration.
Publié par
Marketing
August 6, 2010
Why American Democracy is Alive and Well
Posted at Americas Quarterly on August 6, 2010
Just recently, I listened to a PBS documentary entitled "Looking for Lincoln." It was very revealing to witness how America evolved from the time of slavery to the race relations of today. We observed how a constitution is a living document and how leaders and moments of leadership can converge to advance a society and reinforce a nation’s character.
In democratic nations, we benefit from differences and divergent views. Whether living under the principles of the U.S. Constitution or a parliamentary system like in Canada, we grow stronger from the heated moments of passion to the cool resolution of an issue. In recent months, political debate has heated up and some have gone so far as to question the health of the American political system.
Americans will soon begin the final stretch of the mid-term electoral season. As I recently discussed in other posts, political observers, pundits and partisan operatives have been weighing in about the polarization of U.S. politics, the ideological divide, the strong anti-incumbent sentiment, and how “dysfunctional” the system is.
To an outsider listening in, you would think that American democracy is in its death throes. But, as a Quebecer living in New York, my take is that the last few weeks have shown quite the opposite. The debates remain as lively as ever, but very much in conformity with the values of the American political system and its constitutional precepts.
To illustrate my point, one needs only refer to four issues that have dominated the political discussions lately: the immigration law in Arizona, the war in Afghanistan, California’s Proposition 8, and the building of a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero.
In each case, there are strong views spreading across the political spectrum. In some cases, the courts (Arizona, California) have directly affected the discussion, and in other cases the politicians are leading the way. Whatever point of view you hold, it is healthy and refreshing to hear New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg refer to the Constitution and traditional American values of tolerance and human rights in order to defend a controversial position. It is also inspiring that courts refuse to be swayed by the mood of the moment and provide judgments that have the merit of forcing both sides to reflect further as the case moves along the judicial path. The nature of give and take in each of these issues provides a time for careful deliberation, informed debate and a needed pause to move toward a conclusion.
Most Americans agree that immigration reform, U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, the issue of gay marriage, or the building of a mosque near Ground Zero will need to be addressed and resolved in the very near future. And it is fair to say that whatever the outcome, the American character will be once again tested.
At the end of the day, as with any political system, democratic government in the U.S. may not be without its flaws or imperfections, but the values associated with American democracy and its Constitution remain alive and well. After living in this country for nearly one year, I can say that American democracy remains a beacon to the free world.
Just recently, I listened to a PBS documentary entitled "Looking for Lincoln." It was very revealing to witness how America evolved from the time of slavery to the race relations of today. We observed how a constitution is a living document and how leaders and moments of leadership can converge to advance a society and reinforce a nation’s character.
In democratic nations, we benefit from differences and divergent views. Whether living under the principles of the U.S. Constitution or a parliamentary system like in Canada, we grow stronger from the heated moments of passion to the cool resolution of an issue. In recent months, political debate has heated up and some have gone so far as to question the health of the American political system.
Americans will soon begin the final stretch of the mid-term electoral season. As I recently discussed in other posts, political observers, pundits and partisan operatives have been weighing in about the polarization of U.S. politics, the ideological divide, the strong anti-incumbent sentiment, and how “dysfunctional” the system is.
To an outsider listening in, you would think that American democracy is in its death throes. But, as a Quebecer living in New York, my take is that the last few weeks have shown quite the opposite. The debates remain as lively as ever, but very much in conformity with the values of the American political system and its constitutional precepts.
To illustrate my point, one needs only refer to four issues that have dominated the political discussions lately: the immigration law in Arizona, the war in Afghanistan, California’s Proposition 8, and the building of a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero.
In each case, there are strong views spreading across the political spectrum. In some cases, the courts (Arizona, California) have directly affected the discussion, and in other cases the politicians are leading the way. Whatever point of view you hold, it is healthy and refreshing to hear New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg refer to the Constitution and traditional American values of tolerance and human rights in order to defend a controversial position. It is also inspiring that courts refuse to be swayed by the mood of the moment and provide judgments that have the merit of forcing both sides to reflect further as the case moves along the judicial path. The nature of give and take in each of these issues provides a time for careful deliberation, informed debate and a needed pause to move toward a conclusion.
Most Americans agree that immigration reform, U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, the issue of gay marriage, or the building of a mosque near Ground Zero will need to be addressed and resolved in the very near future. And it is fair to say that whatever the outcome, the American character will be once again tested.
At the end of the day, as with any political system, democratic government in the U.S. may not be without its flaws or imperfections, but the values associated with American democracy and its Constitution remain alive and well. After living in this country for nearly one year, I can say that American democracy remains a beacon to the free world.
Publié par
Marketing
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