January 26, 2012  -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the following remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland:

“Thank you Professor Schwab for that kind introduction, I also want to thank you particularly for the invitation to speak here that you extended to me earlier this year. But more than that, Professor, you have made the World Economic Forum an indispensable part of the global conversation among leaders in politics, business, and civil society.  And in the face of continuing global economic instability, the opportunity this gathering provides is now more valuable than ever.  So I know everyone here joins me in thanking you for, in service of the common good, your vision and your leadership. 

“My Greetings to Ambassador Santi; to the Governor of the Bank of Canada, known internationally as Chair of the Financial Stability Board, Mark Carney; to our hard-working Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast; and to the best finance minister on the planet, Jim Flaherty. And let me just say that I’m especially proud to see so many outstanding Canadian business leaders making their presence felt here in Davos.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I will use my time today to highlight Canada’s economic strengths and to frame the choices we face as we work to secure long-term prosperity for our citizens in a difficult global environment that is likely to remain so.

“As you know, Canada has economically outperformed most industrialized countries during these recent difficult years for the global economy.

“Forbes magazine ranks Canada as the best place on the planet for businesses to grow and create jobs. The OECD and the IMF predict our economy will again be among the leaders of the industrialized world over the next two years.

“And, one more cherished accolade, of course, is that for the fourth year in a row, this body, the World Economic Forum, says our banks are the soundest in the world.

“These evaluations are the result of sound fundamentals. Among G-7 countries, Canada has the lowest overall tax rate on new business investment. Our net debt-to-GDP ratio remains the lowest in the G-7 – and by far.

“And, while we remain concerned about the number of Canadians who are still out of work, Canada is one of only two G-7 countries to have recouped all of the jobs lost during the global recession.

“Indeed, more Canadians are now working, than before the downturn. How was this achieved?

“Faced with the worst global economic crisis since the 1930s, our Government implemented some of the most extensive and targeted economic stimulus measures of the G-20.

“We made historic investments in infrastructure. We encouraged businesses to invest and helped them to avoid layoffs.  We put substantial funding into skills training, and we extended support for workers who lost their jobs.

“These things we did on a timely, targeted and temporary basis. We did not create permanent new programs or government bureaucracy.  As a consequence, our deficit is now falling, our debt-GDP ratio has already peaked and we do not need to raise taxes.  I should add that we also did not reduce immigration or give in to protectionism.

“Instead, we have maintained the high levels of immigration that our ageing labour force of the future will require. We have continued to pursue new trade agreements.

“And we have taken action to make Canada, among G-20 countries, the first tariff-free zone for manufacturers. We have pursued these policies, Ladies and gentlemen, because our number-one priority as a government is prosperity, that is, economic growth and job creation.

“Now, that may sound obvious, almost clichéd. But is it really? As I look around the world, as I look particularly at developed countries, I ask whether the creation of economic growth, and therefore jobs, really is the number-one policy priority everywhere?

“Or is it the case, that in the developed world too many of us have, in fact, become complacent about our prosperity, taking our wealth as a given, assuming it is somehow the natural order of things, leaving us instead to focus primarily on our services and entitlements?

“Is it a coincidence that as the veil falls on the financial crisis, it reveals beneath it, not just too much bank debt, but too much sovereign debt, too much general willingness to have standards and benefits beyond our ability or even willingness to pay for them?

“I don’t know. But what I do know is this. First, that the wealth of western economies is no more inevitable than the poverty of emerging ones, and that the wealth we enjoy today has been based on – and only on – the good, growth-oriented policies, the right, often tough choices and the hard work done in the past.

“And second, that regardless of what direction other western nations may choose, under our Government, Canada will make the transformations necessary to sustain economic growth, job creation and prosperity now and for the next generation.

“That further means two things: making better economic choices now and preparing ourselves now for the demographic pressures the Canadian economy faces.

“On what we must do now, first, we will, of course, continue to keep tax rates down. That is central to our Government’s economic vision.  But we will do more, much more. In the months to come our Government will undertake major transformations to position Canada for growth over the next generation.

“For example, we will continue to make the key investments in science and technology necessary to sustain a modern competitive economy.  But we believe that Canada’s less than optimal results for those investments is a significant problem for our country.

“We have recently received a report on this – the Jenkins Report – and we will soon act on the problems the report identifies.

“We will continue to advance our trade linkages. We will pass agreements signed, particularly in our own hemisphere, and we will work to conclude major deals beyond it.

“We expect to complete negotiations on a Canada-EU free trade agreement this year.  We will work to complete negotiations on a free trade agreement with India in 2013.  And we will begin entry talks with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, while also pursuing other avenues to advance our trade with Asia. Of course, I will again be making an official visit to China very shortly.

“We will also continue working with the Obama administration to implement our joint ‘Beyond the Border’ initiative – our plan to strengthen and deepen our economic and security links to our most important partner.

“However, at the same time, we will make it a national priority to ensure we have the capacity to export our energy products beyond the United States and specifically to Asia.  In this regard, we will soon take action to ensure that major energy and mining projects are not subject to unnecessary regulatory delays – that is, delay merely for the sake of delay.

“This complements work we are already doing, and that we will move forward on, with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business to cut the burden of red tape on entrepreneurs. 

“We will also undertake significant reform of our immigration system. We will ensure that, while we respect our humanitarian obligations and family reunification objectives, we make our economic and labour force needs the central goal of our immigration efforts in the future.

“As I said earlier, one of the backdrops for my concerns is Canada’s ageing population. If not addressed promptly this has the capacity to undermine Canada’s economic position, and for that matter, that of all western nations, well beyond the current economic crises.

“Immigration does help us address that and will even more so in the future. Our demographics also constitute a threat to the social programs and services that Canadians cherish. For this reason, we will be taking measures in the coming months, not just to return to a balanced budget in the medium term, but also to ensure the sustainability of our social programs and fiscal position over the next generation.

“We have already taken steps to limit the growth of our health care spending over that period. We must do the same for our retirement income system.  Fortunately, the centerpiece of that system, the Canada Pension Plan, is fully funded, actuarially sound and does not need to be changed. For those elements of the system that are not funded, we will make the changes necessary to ensure sustainability for the next generation while not affecting current recipients.

“Let me summarize by saying, ladies and gentlemen, that, notwithstanding Canada’s many advantages, we remain very concerned about the continuing instability of the global economy of which we are a part. The problems afflicting Europe, and for that matter, the United States, are not only challenging today but, in my judgement, threaten to be even greater problems in the future.

“Having said that, each nation has a choice to make. Western nations, in particular, face a choice of whether to create the conditions for growth and prosperity, or to risk long-term economic decline.  In every decision, or failure, to decide we are choosing our future right now.

“And, as we all know, both from the global crises of the past few years and from past experience in our own countries, easy choices now mean fewer choices later.

“Canada’s choice will be, with clarity and urgency, to seize and to master our future, to be a model of confidence, growth, and prosperity in the 21^st century.

“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your kind attention.”

January 24, 2012  -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the following remarks at the Crown-First Nations Gathering:

“Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is indeed a pleasure to welcome you on the traditional territory of the Algonquin, to this historic Crown-First Nations Gathering.  And it is especially appropriate to do so in this building, a building whose name honours the memory of a prime minister who cared deeply about the things we are gathered here to talk about today: respect, rights and opportunity for First Nations Canadians.

“John George Diefenbaker was, in many ways, the initiator of the modern era of Crown – First Nations relations.  It was he who named the first First Nations member to the Parliament of Canada, Senator James Gladstone in 1958.  And, it was he who, two years later, extended to aboriginal Canadians living on reserves the right to vote in national elections.

“In addressing that long-standing and fundamental injustice, he was a man ahead of his time and in many ways, an apt inspiration for today’s proceedings.

“Greetings to all participating here in Ottawa and across the country: His Excellency, Governor General Johnston and Mrs. Johnston, Minister Duncan, Secretary Rickford, Senators and Members of Parliament from our Caucus. All distinguished guests, Elders, chiefs, including Chief Weasel Head, and Peter Standing Alone from my home nation, The Blood First Nation of Southern Alberta and, of course, National Chief Atleo.

“It is in no small part the vision and conception of the National Chief that has led to this gathering today, and I know we all congratulate him for that leadership.

“Ladies and gentlemen, friends, yesterday was the sixth anniversary of the general election in which Canadians first entrusted the stewardship of our country to our Government.  These past six years have been a time of, putting it mildly, distractions of elections, of minority Parliaments, and, of course, world economic and financial crises.

“Nevertheless, our Government has worked hard to deal with matters of abiding concern to members of Canada’s First Nations.  And I believe that, as a consequence of our work together thus far, we have exciting opportunities to strengthen our relationships.

“More than that, such will be the demand for labour in our future economy that we are positioned today to unlock the enormous economic potential of First Nations peoples, and to do so in a way that meets our mutual goals.

“Canada's growing and vibrant economy will require a skilled and growing labour force in every region: urban, rural and remote.  Aboriginal peoples are Canada’s youngest population.  It is therefore in all of our interests to see aboriginal people educated, skilled and employed.

“And there will be no better point in history to ensure that happens.  In a moment, I will come back to that.  First however, I must say this: every relationship has its ups and downs, moments of consensus and of disagreement.  I believe it is important to build a narrative of any relationship based on its highest points.  In the relationship of First Nations with Canada, there are some very high points.

"We have the Royal Proclamation of 1763, of which we will mark the 250th anniversary next year, a foundation of the Crown-First Nation relationship. We have, of course, all the historic treaties, large and small.  We have the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, this year, in which aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples joined under the Crown, ultimately laying the basis for a distinct country in the northern half of this continent.  And, of course, all the wars since, in which aboriginal people have always fought alongside their fellow Canadians in the defence of freedom and democracy, here and around the world.  There are great things on which to build.

“Nonetheless, we must acknowledge the not-so-uplifting moments, some very low points and the reality that, for generations,  the relationship between our peoples was tainted, tainted in a manner that eroded trust and blocked ways forward as does a tree fallen across a road.  Tainted in particular by the experience of the forced residential schools, the explicit attempt to destroy aboriginal culture and to dismantle the aboriginal family that wounded so many so deeply.

“That is why one of my most rewarding days in office was when I rose in the House to deliver an apology to those students.  We acknowledged that sad chapter in our history.  We repudiated the thinking that lay behind it.  And, we went beyond symbolism; we took concrete action to settle the claims of those who had been injured.

“That ladies and gentlemen, concrete action, has been our election promise to First Nations people in 2004, in 2006, in 2008 and in 2011.  And to those commitments, we have been faithful.  For example, Our Government has addressed historic grievances by accelerating the settlement of both comprehensive and specific claims.  In concert with The Assembly of First Nations, our historic new process has allowed more than 65 specific claims, previously held up for decades, to be dealt with thus far.

“We have extended the full protection of the Canadian Human Rights Act to First Nations Canadians living on reserves.  We seek to promote the full participation of First Nations in Canada’s political and economic life, with all its rights and responsibilities.  And we are dealing with things that have been in the talk-shop for 20 years, in some cases longer than that.

“We are, for instance, about to ensure that the property of First Nations women and children are protected when relationships end. We have tabled bills to strengthen First Nations governance with 21st century rules on elections and transparency.  Many First Nations people will say it’s about time.  We routed more than a billion dollars of Economic Action Plan funding to investments for Aboriginal and northern communities, using one-time stimulus money to accelerate the building of new homes, and water and waste water systems to improve living conditions.  And soon, we shall secure water-system accountability through legislated standards. 

“In the name of self-government, we have devolved land and resources from Ottawa to Inuvialuit.  To protect children, we have brokered six child and family services harm-prevention agreements between Ottawa, First Nations and provincial governments.  And, of course, we endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.  This reaffirms our aspiration and our determination to promote and protect the rights of indigenous people at home and abroad. 

“These things we have done, Ladies and Gentlemen, as a down payment on what we wish to achieve.  For our goal is self sufficient citizens and self-governing communities.  Our goal is to promote improved governance. Our goal is much increased aboriginal participation in the economy and in the country’s prosperity.  And we have no illusion about the enormous work that lies ahead of us.

“Our Government’s actions and accomplishments during the last six years speak to our sense of urgency.  But, I can tell you this: we have only just begun.  In terms of participation, standard of living and quality of life, the time has come for First Nations to fully share with other Canadians from all walks of life with equal opportunity to find the dignity of gainful employment and more than that, the ability to raise a family in the security that comes with it. 

“This is our goal as the Government, for all Canadians.  And where it is not working for First Nations, we must act, act aggressively and act together.  That brings me to the “Canada-First Nation Joint Action Plan,” agreed last year between the Government of Canada, and the Assembly of First Nations.  This is a timely understanding, based upon common goals and shared principles, principles such as respect and transparency.  Goals like the empowerment of individuals, strong, sustainable communities and economic development.

“I call it timely, because there has never been a better moment to build on what we have achieved, to move forward, to reset the relationship, to learn from the past, but to focus on the future.  The Joint Action Plan points the way ahead, through specific joint commitments, commitments that will effectively change the rules in education, accountability, economic development and treaty relationships.

“Why would we wish to change the rules? Because “from the rules you set, come the results you get.” And the incentives buried in the Indian Act self-evidently lead to outcomes that we all deplore.

“To be sure, our Government has no grand scheme to repeal or to unilaterally re-write the Indian Act:  After 136 years, that tree has deep roots, blowing up the stump would just leave a big hole.  However, there are ways, creative ways, collaborative ways, ways that involve consultation between our Government, the provinces, and First Nations leadership and communities, ways that provide options within the Act, or outside of it, for practical, incremental and real change.

“So that will be our approach, to replace elements of the Indian Act with more modern legislation and procedures, in partnership with provinces and First Nations.  It is an approach that has already shown promise.  With inspired leadership, energy and enterprise, some bands have already shown that First Nations people are as quick to prosper, as capable of excellence and as able to enjoy all that Canada’s vibrant economy has to offer them.

“I think if B.C.’s Haisla First Nation, partners in the massive Kitimat LNG project that will deliver training, employment and rich economic and social benefits to the community for decades to come.  Or in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Miawpukek First Nation which has developed a unique job creation program for unemployed community members, operating in surplus despite having revenue sources of their own.

“Or in Quebec, the Essipit First Nation has developed its tourism and commercial fishery industries, thereby creating local jobs and partnerships with both the private sector and neighbouring municipalities.

“I do believe that so much more is possible than what we presently imagine or conceive.  However, none of us, not governments, not First Nations communities, not aboriginal individuals, can accomplish these things alone or without the others.

“In past conversations, we have talked about symbolism and respect and trust. Certainly, in the past, lack of trust on both sides has held us back.  But this is a new day.  New generations are arising, generations that seek a common vision, that have common goals.  And, the greatest respect that we can show to First Nations men and women is to provide them with the tools, to credit them with the capacity and then allow them to move forward.  We all need to move forward.

“So let us be willing partners.  Let us use this opportunity to renew the conversation. I look forward to your deliberations.  Thank you, Friends.”