Dear friends,
Vancouver is great to visit at any time of the year, but especially in June. However, you may notice some construction around town. We’re gearing up for an exciting time: the 2010 Olympics.
The eyes of the world will be on Vancouver - on Canada - and the timing couldn’t be better. Because Canada has never been stronger.
Success in the 21st century means being engaged with the world. It means anticipating change and preparing for challenges and opportunities ahead. It means seeking new paths to prosperity.
Over the years the IATA too has grown - it’s now 100 times larger than when it was founded in 1945 - but the organization’s focus remains the same:
- to promote safe, reliable, secure and economical air services for the benefit of the world's consumers.
The modern IATA began the same month the Second World War ended. At that time, the aviation industry shifted from serving the Allied cause to serving a new consumer base - a huge transformation.
But while 1945 was a time of change and transformation for the airline industry, the dawn of the 21st century is no different. While safety and security have always been the first priorities for the air industry, at no time have these issues been more critical than in our post-September 11, 2001 world.
Keeping up with a rapidly-changing global marketplace is a continuous challenge. The industry has adapted with great success, and the IATA has played a vital role in facilitating the process.
And I would like to congratulate all of you for remaining committed to that vital mission.
Nous avons adopté de nombreuses nouvelles mesures afin d’aider les industries canadiennes à s’adapter à la modernisation de nos politiques au 21e siècle. La première et la plus importante des mesures adoptées par le gouvernement dans le domaine aérien est l’initiative Ciel bleu.
Ciel Bleu
Avant 2006, la politique internationale du transport aérien du Canada reposait sur une approche graduelle.
Celle-ci nous a permis de conclure des accords relativement ouverts avec nos principaux partenaires commerciaux, comme les États Unis, avec l’accord de 1995, et son élargissement en 2005, de même qu’avec l’Inde, la Chine et le Royaume-Uni.
The global trend to greater liberalization prompted a review of the international policy in 2006. In November of 2006, Canada’s new government launched the Blue Sky policy. The policy committed Canada to proactively pursue open agreements when in Canada’s overall interest. The Blue Sky policy also differentiates cargo and passenger traffic and recognizes that, in some cases, it may be possible to make progress with respect to cargo traffic rights more quickly than with passenger rights.
This approach is bearing fruit. In April of this year, we concluded the first open agreement under the Blue Sky policy – with Ireland.
We are paying particular attention to our key trading partners. For example, a Blue Sky agreement was recently signed with Japan and we have begun exploratory discussions with the European Union regarding a comprehensive agreement.
We are gradually removing obstacles that exist in various bilateral agreements, opening up new opportunities and creating more choice for Canadian consumers. Implementation of the Blue Sky policy reflects consultation and collaboration with stakeholders.
These include airports and air carriers, but also others, such as chambers of commerce and the tourism industry. We will continue to seek the right balance in our approach to create more opportunities for air carriers and Canadian airports for the benefit of travellers and shippers.
Gateways
Canada’s New Government is also showing leadership, taking action, and increasing Canada’s competitiveness on the world stage. It is a great endeavour that this government, along with its provincial colleagues and stakeholders, have embarked on together, and that is to build a policy on our gateways and corridors.
The new international business model uses global supply chains to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. Canada’s participation in these supply chains depends upon connecting workers with jobs, products with markets and travellers with their destinations.
That’s why, in October 2006, Canada’s New Government launched the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative. In fact, our government committed $2.1 billion in its most recent budget for a national fund for gateways and border crossings, to be guided by the new policy framework.
The initiative is an integrated set of investment and policy measures focused on trade with the Asia-Pacific Region, our number one bilateral economic partner, the United States, and with emerging economies.
For example, Canada’s currently exports $343 billion per year to the U.S. while our imports to Canada from the U.S. are $215 billion.
Our other major trading partners in 2005 total imports — in U.S. dollars — were:
- NAFTA at $2.3 trillion;
- the European Union at $4 trillion; and
- Asia at $2.7 trillion.
Our road, marine, rail and air systems are entry and exit points through which goods and passengers move to reach beyond our borders and to all of our communities.We want to maximize the impact of those investments within the current economic climate to protect Canada’s interest.
The Gateway and Corridor Initiative is a system of transportation infrastructure, including British Columbia Lower Mainland and Prince Rupert ports, road and rail connections that reach across Western Canada and into the economic heartlands of North America, as well as major airports and border crossings.
By creating a seamless, secure and efficient movement of goods and people, not only do we increase Canada’s competitiveness with respect to new markets, but we increase it with our traditional trading partners as well.
Infrastructure
Nous devons être disposés à investir dans l’infrastructure de transport qui appuie le commerce international. Dans ses deux derniers budgets, le gouvernement a consacré plus de 33 milliards de dollars dans l’infrastructure – soit un investissement fédéral de 1000 $ par Canadien.
Cela est sans précédent dans l’histoire du Canada.
Il s’agit de l’investissement dans l’infrastructure le plus important en un demi-siècle, qui contribuera grandement à la compétitivité du Canada dans un monde où les échanges commerciaux mondiaux évoluent rapidement.
Cela reflète notre vision, une vision de prospérité qui repose sur notre leadership en matière de logistique du transport à l’échelle mondiale. Et nous investirons à cette fin, pour assurer les déplacements harmonieux des personnes et des marchandises.
Dans un pays qui exporte 90 p. 100 de sa production et une économie qui dépend de cette réalité, il est prioritaire d’agir pour appuyer cette réalité.
Transportation and SMS
And we can never forget that safety and security are the key pillars of an efficient transportation system as a whole. We know that there will always be risk in transportation. But what is critical is how we manage that risk, and what we do to prevent incidents and accidents from occurring in the first place. This means building upon our existing regulatory frameworks and focusing on risk management practices.
We believe Safety Management Systems or SMS are part of the solution in meeting this commitment. SMS provides an organization with the capacity to address safety issues before they lead to an accident or incident.
There’s no doubt that SMS calls for a change of culture within an organization. But that change of culture is not limited to members of the aviation industry. It extends to the accountability of individuals, and of government departments. I can tell you that the implementation of Safety Management Systems within Canada’s civil aviation industry is progressing well.
Quite simply, the measure of our success will be improved safety. And we are determined to make a safe system even safer.
For example, Canada is working with the International Civil Aviation Organization on the development of international requirements for Safety Management Systems and on issues related to implementation. Canada is also currently working with the United States Federal Aviation Administration, and other national civil aviation authorities to promote a shared understanding of Safety Management Systems, as well as to help other authorities wherever possible. This assistance includes work on regulations, guidance material, workshops and implementation activities.
I also met my American and Mexican ministerial counterparts in Tucson recently for a series of trilateral meetings. At these meetings we made a commitment to move toward more coordinated, compatible, and integrated national transportation systems.
This commitment is important for our countries, citizens, and companies. A safe and secure system is not only good for our shared protection, but it’s also good for business.
Nobody wants to fly or ship goods on an unsafe airline. Through the ICAO, we’re helping to get that message out. I was also glad to share with Secretary Peters that Canada is the first country in the world to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the airline industry.
Security
Notre réussite a été remarquable sur le plan de la sécurité aérienne, mais le nouveau gouvernement du Canada a aussi déployé des efforts considérables afin de s’assurer que le réseau de transport du Canada demeure sécuritaire.
Le Canada n’est pas à l’abri du terrorisme et nous devons demeurer vigilants. Depuis le 11 septembre 2001, plus de 3 milliards de dollars ont été consacrés au renforcement de la sûreté des transports au Canada.
J’ai apporté d’autres améliorations au système de sûreté de l’aviation, par la mise en œuvre du programme de Carte d’identité pour les zones réglementées, qui utilise une technologie de pointe pour effectuer le contrôle des travailleurs d’aéroport, et; Par la mise au point du Programme de protection des passagers, qui vise à empêcher des personnes susceptibles de présenter une menace pour la sûreté de l’aviation de monter à bord d’un avion.
I would like to thank the airline industry for its important collaboration to implement the Passenger Protect Program, which comes into effect June 18th. Under this program, Canadians who appear to be 12 years of age or older must present two pieces of government-issued identification before boarding an aircraft.
Over the past year, Canada’s New Government has committed over $159 million in new funding to enhance aviation security. This includes $133 million for CATSA to replace aging screening equipment, explore new security technologies, and add new screeners and equipment to deal with increased passenger traffic.
Budget 2006 also allocated $26 million to improve the Air Cargo Security Program— a program Prime Minister Harper and I formally announced last June at Pearson Airport. For Canada’s continued prosperity, we need to have all elements of our transportation system working well together, with safety and security as the cornerstone of the entire network.
Conclusion
Budget 2006 also allocated $26 million to improve the air Cargo Security Program – a program Prime Minister Harper and I formally announced last June at Pearson Airport. For Canada’s continued prosperity, we need to have all elements of our transportation system working well together, with safety and security as the cornerstone of the entire network.
And on behalf of Canada’s new government and the entire population of Canada, I want to thank you for your remarkable work in this area and I pledge on continued collaboration.
Thank you.