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Canada, EU working towards 'historic' agreement: PM
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Fri. Oct. 17 2008 9:27 PM ET
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that Canada is working towards a "comprehensive and truly historic" economic partnership with the European Union.
Harper made the comments at a press conference Friday, after meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.
Harper said that Canada and the European Union had agreed "to define the formal mandates for an ambitious, deeper and comprehensive and truly historic economic partnership agreement."
"Without question, these times call for closer economic co-operation among key players in the global economy," Harper added.
No details were given on the plan.
Harper, Sarkozy and Barroso were greeted by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean ahead of tonight's summit of La Francophonie, an organization of 55 French-speaking nations.
Harper has vowed to make sure Canadian banks are not negatively impacted by ongoing rescue efforts in Europe and the U.S., where governments are providing aid to financial institutions.
Sarkozy delivered an address to the National Assembly Friday afternoon.
"The president of France gave a very heartfelt speech . . . Mr. Sarkozy said 'while Canada is our friend, Quebec is our family," CTV's Rosemary Thompson told Mike Duffy Live Friday from Quebec City.
Premier Jean Charest and Sarkozy signed an agreement Friday that will allow a number French professionals and tradespersons to work in Quebec. The same applies for Quebec citizens who want to work in France in those same professions.
About a dozen professions and two-dozen trades are included in the deal. That will climb to about 100 by 2010.
"For instance, if you were a doctor in France you could come and work in Quebec as a doctor and there wouldn't be a hassle over credentials," Thompson told CTV Newsnet from Quebec City.
Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon told Mike Duffy Live that Canada "has to seek out new markets" in these times of economic uncertainty.
Cannon said they are working on an "open-skies" agreement with the EU.
In the evening, Sarkozy will attend the official opening of the summit of La Francophonie.
However, the French leader has cut short his visit and will not attend the closing ceremonies of the summit -- a first for any French president.
Instead, Sarkozy will travel to Camp David in Maryland on Saturday for meetings with U.S. President George Bush.
"It's a bit disappointing," Christine St-Pierre, Quebec's minister responsible for the provincial language law, said Thursday.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest said the shortened visit was understandable given the "extraordinary circumstances."
Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, will not be travelling with her husband.
With files from The Canadian Press
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I applaud the budget, even though Health Care and education may stay unscathed. Sadly this cannot last and I worry to later this year where cuts will become enviable. If anything, this provides the Wildrose Alliance plenty of ammo when an election is called.
Comments are now closed for this story
Jake
said
I predict that Harper followers will end up accepting some of Dion's ideas (due to Harper's lead). This is going to be both interesting & ironic, but I have to say that even as a liberal supporter, I am encouraged at the prospect for progressive & positive change, regardless of what party brings it in.
I welcome much stronger ties with the EU.
Frunk
said
James
said
Circling the drain, circling the drain, ouch, circling the drain, ugh!!
Yoyo
said
Yippee for Steve??
said
Simon Shaw
said
Peter Swetnam
said
Poor Dion, what a difference just 3 days make. His party stood behind him for the last 2 1/2 years saying that if an election were to happen that Dion would stomp all other parties with his carbon tax.
Today after the worst defeat in the history of the Liberal party, Liberal members are starting to come out of the wood work wanting him to leave right away.
Wow, I guess it is loyality like that, that wants to make you sign up as a Liberal member.
As a Conservative the only person right now in the Liberal party that scares me is Michael Ignatieff, as for Bob Ray, well his past record as priemier of Ontario is all the fuel Harper and Layton need to crush the Liberal again.
Bonnie
said
They were working behind the scene a month ago.
Our finance minister and the U.S. President were just told to be there for the photo-op.
They were clueless as to what to do about anything.
Mr. Harper is still doing the same thing. Pretending he is an important player in the game.
He may have studied Economics but he is no Economist. They aren't all created equal.
Exiled Canadian
said
proud conservative
said
...There are very very few Conservatives that want Harper to step down.I doubt we will see a majority government for a very very long time.I voted for the party leader not the party this time around.I think he is the best prime minister we have had ever.
CC-western Canada
said
They were working behind the scene a month ago.
Our finance minister and the U.S. President were just told to be there for the photo-op."
You heard eh? That has to be one of the most un-informed quotes of the day. The US has two foreign people come in and save their banks eh? Perhaps another coffee may open the eyes.
Harper is a pro active leader that has kept this country in the best position possible during this global slow down. People should start being thankful for having a leader that does know what he's doing and started preparing this country a year ago. I'm sure Sarkozy will be looking for tips on how Canada and it's banks has faired so well.
Chris
said
Mike
said
Dennis - Sudbury, Ontario
said
=======================
Whatever. By that logic Chretien should never have been Prime Minister either.
There is only one party leader that is most likely to resign and it sure isnt Harper.
Why would Harper go anywhere when he united the right, and in subsequent elections reduced the Liberals to a minority, sent them to the Opposition benches, and then smashed them for their worst showing in over 20 years?
Why would the Tories get rid of a leader that is extremely popular within his own Party, and who keeps pushing the Tories' electoral trend upward?
James
said
Mike S
said
I agree with you if we had a leader to actually support reguardless of the party that is in power or not.
KJ in Kingston Ontario
said
ric vegreville
said
Jill
said
Jessica
said
Harper didn't "piss away the surplus". He transfered much of it back to the provinces so it can be spent on healthcare and education, and he did this after it had been taken away by the Chretien/Martin group to fund such things a useless gun registry and the sponsorship program...and of course the universal childcare benefit (which the Liberals now agree with apparently), reducing the GST (something the Liberals don't want to remind Canadians about), the creation of the Building Canada Fund, etc etc etc...how big do you think the surplus should be anyway? $10 billion? $25 billion? It's easy to have a surplus, just cut spending, increase taxes, or both! Which of those options would you prefer??
Greg in the Hammer
said
Governments runnning HUGE budget surpluses like the Liberals did is NOT good economic management. Its overtaxation. Which is actually POOR economic management.
The Liberals built those surpluses by slashing transfer payments to the provinces and cutting budgets of departments that had no room to cut like National Defence.
For you to then suggest that it would be good now to have that money to throw at this "crisis" is even worse economic policy.
Canada is position better than any other country in the world to weather this. The reason, is successive governments have not gone into deficit, paid down the debt, and managed the economy well. Our banking system is strong and well regulated.
For someone to think that we would be unaffected by what else is going in the world however is not realistic. The Prime Minister has been talking about this for over a year.
Maybe you were too busy reading the "GREEN SHIFT" to notice.
Bewildered in Toronto
said
The Liberals just kept the money; stashed it away in private accounts and shared it amongst themselves.
Of course, this all means for nought when a sweater is the best target for an onslaught.
Further, a Prime Minister is not responsible for me if I drive my credit cards to the max and then wonder what just happened.
Jim McB
said
Most of the economic discussion was lost in petty pseudo scanadals and fringe environmental kneejerks over the past year and a half. The government of that country was standing on guard for it citizens and now their counsel is being sought internationally for the way ahead. If you guessed that the country was Canada you would be correct.
It seems our only harsh critics comes from the ranks of disgruntled left wing supporters that saw their parties tank in the last election. As a nation we have every reason to be proud of our record and we are a significant player on the world stage.
eddytoronto
said
Canada could become the first non-European Union country to see EU trade barriers ended.
the pact would "increase bilateral trade and investment by at least $40 billion a year, mainly in trade in services,"
This will ne collected by the Ultra Elite.
An agreement to integrate Canada's economy with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks be launched at 17 summit in Montreal three days now after the federal election."
"The proposed pact would far exceed the scope of older agreements such as NAFTA by encompassing not only unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment and the removal of tariffs, but also the free movement of skilled people ,army,navy and an open market in government services and procurement – which would require that Canadian governments allow European companies to bid as equals on government contracts for both goods and services and end the favouring of local or national providers of public-sector services.
All the more reason for the sheep to be chipped & tracked.
All coming together. China & India are having talks too.
Nick in Gatineau
said
Every right-wing government in history has done the same thing: run deficits and debts.
CC-western Canada
said
Jean Pierre
said
R/H Ontario
said
People have to start with putting their own house in order before criticizing the Government. Quit racking up huge credit card balances and only buy what you 'need' not what you 'want', for a while. It will make a difference and all for the better. Times are tough right now and they could get a whole lot worse if you don't start taking care of yourself and not expect the Government to do everything for you.
FreakAlert
said
Michael (Alta Vsta)
said
Time to get with the program Nick.
Conservatives are who they are NOW ...not 10 years ago. Any attempt to paint them other than what they are today is little more than smears from the left of center which is where your party has clearly moved to.
JP in Ontario
said
This meeting is a good thing, and will help other countries, as well as Canada, but until Harper, Brown, Sarkozy, Bush (or Obama or McCain), and all the other major world leaders and their finance reps sit down and discuss how to update Bretton Woods, and other international banking policies and practices, there wont be an effective long term solution.
Michael (ALta Vista)
said
I hear ya! The public would be well advised to start googling the history of the Federal Reserve Bank and trace its roots back to the Corporation of the City of London to find out how and where all this financial manipulation comes from. It's an eye opener for sure. In the end the good news is they lose and God wins!!
shelley
said
JP in Ontario
said
Mike
said
Of course I have the right to complain. All of the parties have major problems that makes them incapable of doing the required job. If you go out looking for a part for your car and they try to substitute something that won't do the job you don't buy it. If the parties keep putting forward people that can't do the job you are stupid to support one of them (my opinion). My only regret about the whole election was that we didn't end up with a smaller % of voters. The truth is the conservatives only got the support of 1/4 of the voters and the other parties got even lesser amounts . This is an indication of major problems in how our political system runs and the libs and cons must pay attention to this or become increasingly out of touch i.e. a state of delusion
VOTE "NONE OF THE ABOVE"
CC-western Canada
said
Gender Neutral
said
Denis
said
Shamaro
said
A lot of people don't realize, that the EU are actually bigger bullies than the US when it comes to trade issue's.
However Canada has a lot to offer Europe, especially when it comes to our commodities which the EU is lacking.
However I don't like Europe's my way or the highway idea's. They can be very condesending when it comes to dealing with anyone outside of Europe.
Michelle
said
Bruce Polley
said
Wise Wajid
said
B. Polley
said
Joe
said
Mel from Calgary
said
Now three days after the election there are all these projections about being in deficit and that deficits are good things.
Now I know how this works...Liberal or NDP deficits are bad while Conservative deficits are good.
hollinm
said
Harper did not unite the right. He highjacked
How long do you want to fight the old battles? Can you not accept the fact that Harper is the leader of the Conservative party and is the Prime Minister of Canada. There is no such thing as the Progressive Conservative party. It ceased to exist four years ago. Whether you like him or not Harper deserves your respect. ...
RRO
said
If that is what you want for Canada than perhaps a Carbon Tax isn't a bad idea. Especially since Dion's was even harsher than his European counterparts.
At a time of Economic termoil, where we are losing manufacturing jobs overseas, raising taxes is not the answer.
raj
said
I really like Nicolas Sarkozy
Tono
said
Wendy In Montreal
said
Nick in Gatineau
said
Everything governments do is simply re-hashing old precedents, old theories, old ways to simply shovel dirt in the others' backyards.
Our system is based on British Feodal ways that are out-dated. Partly, and only a tint of modernity, metaphysical, our constitutional tax-base is seriously flawed. It is quite normal for the economy to follow it.
Doug BC
said
I switched from Liberals to Conservatives for one simple reason.Conservatives honestly believe that we must reduce our debt,and lower taxes if we are going to accomplish all the other projects we would like to take on in Canada.It is ALWAYS about where the money will come from for all the "free" services some people want.
In the midst of this economic chaos,how can anyone seriously suggest that lower debt and lower taxes are a bad thing??
I too,welcome more markets for Canadian products.But we have to compete.Every other country is looking at the same markets.And the EU is not an easy market to break in to.They're trying to look after their people just as we are.
I simply reject the left wing idea that we can keep spending money we have not yet earned.Or that a domestic economy can work if people don't have money in their pockets.We must learn to live within our means.
Brent
said
Rebecca
said
The country is in good hands
said
Yes, our country is indeed in good hands. It's as if the country has not skipped a beat. We are moving on...
Edb
said
If there's going to be any kind of free trade, it has to be with the civilized nations of the EU.
NOT Mexico, let them keep their cheap labor, and their cheap drugs.
JG
said
Darren in NS
said
Proud Canadian (Ontario)
said
Please people try to be a little more optomistic ....LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!
I'm very proud to be a Canadian ...
Daryl In Lethbridge
said
Regionalism and petty partisan politics will divide and conquer Canada. At a time when Countries are failing we must remain strong and united.
Surely there is room for the Right and Left to put aside the pettiness and support the Will of the Purality of Canadian voters?
Tim in Ottawa
said
Denise in Calgary
said
MILT
said
1. Who cares about France.
2. Glad I dont live in Quebec, anti English speaking anti English advertizing. Just like pre 1945 Germany with the Brown shirts.
Vin Ablack
said
Gender Neutral
said
Rebecca: Are you serious? Picking apart a pic, because the camera man took a pic from that angle? Yes Rebecca, he is turning his back on Canadians. It must be terrible to have to be so bitter to say things that make no sense and are said in complete malice.
GHW
said
We need to diversify our trade and Europe is a prime market for us because of the favorable currency exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the EURO.
Good work Harper
DC in AB
said
The fact is... OUR Prime Minister IS an economist... OUR Prime Minister started preparing for this day a long time ago, and OUR banks are the most financially sound in the world... WE DIDN'T run a deficit, and we AREN'T going into a recession. Quit pretending you know how to fix the economy, and let the people who know what they're doing do their job.
Go back to kindergarten people...
Don from Ottawa
said
Luckily it is not Stephane Dion or Elizabeth May representing us over there, or they'd come home with a handful of magic beans.
Ken - Calgary
said
READ BETWEEN THE LINES, PEOPLE. Harper is not a hero. We have a severe shortage of doctors in this nation, and this agreement just made it even shorter.
Dan W
said
Dan W
Waterloo
Steve
said
Peter in Ottawa
said
Harper, by any objective measure, is the best PM we have ever had.
And Liberals don't like that.
Miles
said
Cut some deals Sarko and Harpo
said
USA is done running this world.
The world is moving on.
sasha
said
and I hope The EU is capable forcing canada to stop using so much pharmaceutical products in our food supply..
Jason Daniel Baker, Toronto
said
I welcome the changes at strengthening necessary ties with Europe that will give a boost to their economy as well as ours. We made globalisation happen now we are making it work.
The Prime Minister is governing very differently just days after the election.
Now if he could just persuade these European countries to take up some responsibility for the Afghan mission...
Winston Smith
said
Wally J
said
james
said
So, with Quebec out, that gives him a majority in Parliament now. Nice move.
Mike from Etobicoke
said
Steve@Sarnia
said
Were you paying any attention during the election campaign?
Harper has always admitted that Canada was not immune from the global financial crisis, but he also correctly noted that compared to every other G7 nation, Canada's economic fundamentals are strong.
What don't you understand about this?
Because of the Reform party's insistence Paul Martin and the Liberals eliminated Canada's budget deficit, recorded several budget surpluses, paid down Canada's debt and brought forth huge amounts of tax cuts for individuals and corporations, and the Conservatives have continued and ameliorated these policies.
That is why it is absolutely true to say that Canada's economic fundamentals are strong and also one of the primary reasons why Canada has avoided much of the economic stress that is being felt in the United States and elsewhere.
If you believe raising taxes, running deficits and and increasing spending in a time of economic uncertainty is prudent, that's fine, it is one perspective, but I thank God that the Canadian people decided that these policies would be wrong for Canada.
Danny Dinosaur
said
Don't get me wrong, it has been good to us. Unfortunately at $70 per barrel and a world that is hungry for environmentally responsible technology, we are not well positioned.
We need leaders to be thinking a bit further ahead - even if the voters can't. This short term strategy is going to make us all extinct.
Burt Mapson
said
If you have a credit card bill that comes due every month, and you don't pay off the balance, you will quickly wrack up a very big balance that compounds with interest. Some day those mean, nasty banks are going to come knocking for their money back and you might lose everything you have.
You can refuse to pay down that big balance by "hanging on to that surplus" and hope they never show up and that you can keep spending money you don't have or you can pay it down either by paying it off directly or by doing something that will create new revenues (taxes) so that the balance isn't as big a chunk of your networth (GDP).
It just isn't that hard boys and girls.
Repeat after me. Harper mandated that government pay down a chunk of the debt every year and then he returned the rest of our hard earned money he collects from us each year to the taxpayers so that we could buy things which would creates new jobs which helps our economy to grow (and allows the government to collect more taxes).
Do you really think Government is more efficient at spending money than my wife and kids?
canophone
said
Marc Coquitlam B.C.
said
Alberta Conservative
said
Outside of Quebec the Conservatives got 57% of the number of seats available.
It is only Quebec that are different from the rest of Canada that made a minority government. We almost need two different rules for Canada. One set for nine provinces and one for Quebec.
They never seem to agree with the rest of us.
Jake
said
I'm not saying I want for Canada the Carbon Policy Europe has. I'm sharing what I read in a detailed news article that explained how we are facing obstacles in our trade talks with the EU because we do not have a Carbon Policy similar to theirs.
Why is this an issue in the trade talks? Obviously they are not going to want to put themselves at a COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE by agreeing to a playing field that is NOT LEVEL.
We need the trade deal with the EU since the US is in the tank. We are DANGEROUSLY dependent on the USA.
However, we have this Carbon Policy obstacle and we also have the obstacle of INTERPROVINCIAL DISHARMONY. Our provinces are able to adamantly go their own ways and we've heard quite vocally that some of them want more of that, but this creates substantive problems for Canada INTERNATIONALLY.
Somewhere there is a BALANCE, perhaps, that does not threaten international trade deals. I predict that Harper now has the cards he needs to play to effect positive & progressive change within Canada. I understand that con supporters don't follow PE Trudeau & S Dion, but they DO follow S Harper.
It is an interesting situation. Even though I am a hard-core liberal of the anti-Harper variety, I will give Harper credit if he does the right thing for Canada.
Shan
said
elizabeth
said
Europe will demand strict environmental standards if Canada wants to do business. We need to trade with Europe since the US is "broke".
Jeff
said
Canadians have to decide whether we want to be tied to the policies and ideology of the past, like American capitalists, or looking for the way forward, like the more socialist policies of the European Union.
elisa
said
food, toys or whatever else we import from countries that have little to now safety standards.
I voted in the election, not for Harper and not for Dion, but I do believe Harper is the best to lead us right now with what is going on economically.
Diane M.
said
Kris
said
Quebec citizens?? There's no such thing: you're either a Canadian citizen or you're not. If this agreement applies only to Canadian citizens from Quebec then it is discriminatory.
Tom in Calgary
said