“Canada is committed to increasing trade with the Americas to create economic opportunities for Canadians and people throughout the hemisphere,” said the Prime Minister. ”I look forward to working with our partners in the Americas to achieve these goals, and address shared security and development challenges.”

The Prime Minister will meet with President Ollanta Humala Tasso in Lima, Peru on May 22. Discussions will focus on deepening the overall bilateral partnership, which includes economic cooperation, development cooperation, education and defence. Since the entry into force of the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement in 2009, Peru has continued to grow as a key market for Canada in the Americas. The country is Canada’s third-largest bilateral trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean after Mexico and Brazil, and the third largest destination for Canadian direct investment in South and Central America.

On May 22-23, Prime Minister Harper will attend the Pacific Alliance Leaders’ Summit in Cali, Colombia, where he will discuss issues of economic importance to the hemisphere, including trade and investment.

The Pacific Alliance is a grouping of four of Latin America’s fastest-growing economies: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. It was launched in April 2011 to facilitate the free movement of goods, services, capital and people among member countries, and to strengthen their trade and investment ties with Asia. Canada has bilateral free trade agreements with all the founding members of the Pacific Alliance. Canada became an observer to the Pacific Alliance in October 2012.

“Our Government is committed to helping innovators in Atlantic Canada succeed,” said Prime Minister Harper. “The support being announced today will help innovative companies in Prince Edward Island bring their cutting-edge products, processes, technologies and services to market, generating jobs and economic growth.”

New support being provided under AIF will help BioVectra Inc. develop two generic drugs employing sustained-release delivery technology and Delivra Inc. to develop more effective topical creams to relieve joint pain and improve circulation. AIF support will also help Island Abbey Foods Ltd. research and develop ways to use innovative dehydrated honey to deliver a broad range of therapeutic products. All three companies are in Charlottetown.

Since its launch in 2001, the Atlantic Innovation Fund has been helping Atlantic Canadians compete in a global knowledge-based economy through the development and commercialization of new and innovative products and services. In Economic Action Plan 2010, the Government ensured that funding for the AIF would be permanent.

“Recently a number of tragic events have highlighted the serious effects cyberbullying is having on our youth,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “We have an obligation to help put an end to harmful online harassment and exploitation in all its forms, and today’s roundtable with victims’ families and experts will help inform what further actions need to be taken to combat cyberbullying.”

The Prime Minister was joined at the roundtable by Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety; Joyce Bateman, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre; Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection; Carol Todd, mother of Amanda Todd; Leah Parsons (spouse Jason Barnes also present) and Glen Canning (spouse Krista Canning also present), parents of Rehtaeh Parsons; Pam Murchison, mother of Jenna Bowers-Bryanton; Jo-Anne Landolt, aunt of Kimberly Proctor; Sharon Wood, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone; Sheldon Kennedy, Co-Founder of Respect Group Inc.; and, Dr. Wendy Craig, Professor of Psychology at Queen’s University and Scientific Co-Director of PREVNet.

The Harper Government supports a range of education, awareness, prevention and enforcement activities to combat bullying, including cyberbullying, to help keep our young people safe online. These include: working with provincial and territorial partners to identify best practices; reviewing the Criminal Code to address any gaps related to cyberbullying; and informing Canadians about online safety through GetCyberSafe.gc.ca.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a leader in helping youth address cyberbullying. The organization recently launched a new online resource NeedHelpNow.ca, designed to help Canadian youth deal with the negative consequences of the creation and distribution of sexual content online. The site offers tips on removing content, strategies for dealing with peers and guidance moving forward. 

“The Canadian economy continues to perform relatively well in a time of global economic uncertainty,” said Prime Minister Harper. “I look forward to engaging with Council members on pressing issues including the global economy, trade liberalization, energy and security, as well as issues of importance to Canada and the U.S. such as the Keystone XL pipeline and the Detroit River International Crossing.” 

While in New York, Prime Minister Harper will also participate in a roundtable with American business leaders.

Canada and the U.S. enjoy one of the closest and most prosperous relationships in the world, with bilateral trade surpassing US$742.4 billion in 2012, and more than US$2 billion worth of goods and services crossing the Canada-U.S. border every day.

These projects are part of 55 new innovative clean energy projects announced by Prime Minister Stephen  Harper, representing an investment of more than $82 million through the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative. The program was created to invest in new, clean energy technologies that will create jobs, generate economic opportunities and help protect the environment.

 “The economy is the top priority of Canadians. Our Conservative Government is creating well-paying jobs and economic opportunities, while protecting our environment with this investment. The ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative allows us to invest in clean energy technologies here in our community and create jobs for our neighbours,” said MP Eve Adams.

The investment in Prolucid Technologies Inc. will fund the Local Grid Technologies for Distributed Generation Monitoring and Control project which will demonstrate new grid technologies that enable the effective introduction and management of new renewable energy sources – such as solar, wind, and combined heat and power generation – onto the electricity grid. The system will aim to provide generators and grid operators with the ability to control and curtail generation, monitor the state of the power grid in real-time, and ultimately increase the renewable generation that can be connected to the grid.

The Canadian Standards Association investment will be used for Developing Electrical Safety Standards to Introduce Electric Vehicles into Canada project to deliver a series of safety standards and protocols related to the supply and storage of electricity for electric vehicles through: the establishment and updating of Canadian standards for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE); the development and harmonization of EVSE product requirements for North America; and, the establishment, harmonization and adoption of standards at an international level. These activities will allow Canada to leverage the technical expertise of the international community and establish Canada as a leader in the global electric vehicle community.

Finally, the Hatch Ltd. Investment will fund the Development of a Utility Grade Controller for Remote Microgrids with High Penetration Renewable Generation to develop a commercially viable controller for the electricity distribution system in a remote community. The controller performance will be rigorously tested at the University of Toronto and on physical equipment to replicate a small remote electrical grid. The controller will be used to manage diesel and renewable generators, and storage for the most economical operation of the grid while also ensuring power quality.

“This investment is good news for Mississauga as we strive to position ourselves as a clean energy leader,” said MP Eve Adams. “New innovative clean energy projects, like these stimulate our local economy while helping protect the environment.”

The ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative has received $268 million in funding over five years to fund research, development and demonstration projects that produce and use energy in a more clean and efficient manner.

The Governor General will participate in meetings with heads of state and government, senior officials, and civil society in all three countries with a view to further strengthening bilateral relations and deepening commercial and educational ties.

Canada has unique relations with all the African countries being visited by the Governor General, including strong commercial and educational ties with Ghana, significant mutual investment with Botswana, and strong education and commercial ties with South Africa.

Africa remains a priority area for Canadian international development assistance. The continent is also a priority market for Canada as it is home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world, and offers tremendous opportunities in areas such as the extractive and infrastructure sectors.

“Mount Allison is focussed on helping our Veterans flourish in their civilian lives. This welcome support complements the recent work by our Government and corporate Canada to promote highly skilled Canadian Veterans,” said Minister Blaney. “By participating in our Hire a Veteraninitiative, the University is providing Veterans with new opportunities to successfully make the transition from military to civilian life and allowing them to put the training and skills acquired during their service to good use in the civilian workforce.”

“Our Veterans are well-trained and hard-working, and they have an important role to play in Canada’s workforce,” said Parliamentary Secretary Adams. “I applaud Mount Allison University for joining our Hire a Veteran initiative, and call on corporate Canada to join Mount Allison and other leading employers like Queen’s University and Canadian National.”

“We are happy to be part of an initiative that brings to our Canadian Veterans’ attention the possibility of pursuing a career at Canadian universities, including Mount Allison,” said Mount Allison University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Campbell.

The University’s work builds upon the Veterans Transition Action Plan, launched last fall by Minister Blaney. The plan consists of new measures for cutting red tape for Veterans, enhancements to service delivery, post-military career opportunities for Veterans, ground-breaking research on the needs of releasing Canadian Armed Forces personnel, and enhanced cultural awareness.

For more information on Veterans Affairs Canada’s programs and services, visit veterans.gc.ca.

“Our Government is positioning Canada as a global leader in the clean energy sector by supporting innovative projects across the country aimed at producing and using energy in a cleaner and more efficient way,” said the Prime Minister. “The research and development generated by the projects being announced today will also maintain and create jobs, while benefitting the environment.” 

Of the 55 projects receiving support, 15 will be pre-commercialisation demonstration projects to test the feasibility of various technologies, and 40 will be research and development projects to address knowledge gaps and bring technologies from the conceptual stage to the ready-to-be-tested stage of development. The projects will be undertaken in seven provinces and two territories and will focus on research in the following areas: energy efficiency; clean electricity and renewables; bioenergy; electrification of transportation; and, unconventional oil and gas. 

The Prime Minister met with representatives of several of the companies receiving funding, including CO₂ Solutions and AddÉnergie Technologies, both based in Quebec City. CO₂ Solutions is receiving funding to support the research and development of an innovative method to more efficiently capture carbon dioxide in the oil sands, and AddÉnergie is receiving support for the development of its electrical vehicle charging infrastructure. 

The Report reflects on the significant changes that have unfolded in the Public Service and the world since the publication of the First Annual Report to the Prime Minister in 1992.  Over the past year, the Public Service has delivered on the government’s agenda and continued to find more efficient and effective ways of doing business, while managing personnel changes in a sensible and respectful manner. 

“The Clerk’s Annual Report provides a snapshot of the great work of public servants serving Canadians and efforts to improve the operation of the government”, said Prime Minister Harper.  “I am looking forward to working closely with the Public Service as it continues to position itself to meet the needs of Canadians in the future”.

The Clerk’s Report provides an overview of the many accomplishments of the Public Service over the past year.  Among other priorities, the Public Service sought to improve the responsible development of natural resources, modernize the immigration system, secure the retirement income system for Canadians, reduce red tape for Canadian job-creators, renew border infrastructure, and strengthen Canada’s trade with a broad range of international partners. 

The Report articulates the Clerk’s priorities for 2013 and beyond.  These include: a greater focus on productivity; embracing enterprise approaches to reduce duplication, streamline processes, and leverage economies of scale; and working collaboratively with internal and external partners and citizens to develop creative and workable policy and program solutions.  More broadly, the Report invites public servants to participate in a dialogue to shape the vision for the future of the public service, and to develop a plan to make this vision a reality. 

The Prime Minister thanked the Clerk for this Report and his enduring commitment to excellence in serving Canadians.  

The Report is available on the Clerk’s website (www.clerk.gc.ca).

“This agreement will facilitate investment flows between Canada and Nigeria, contributing to job creation and economic growth in both countries,” said Prime Minister Harper. “It will provide Canadian companies and investors with the protection and confidence they need to take advantage of the many commercial opportunities in Africa’s most populous nation.”

The Agreement will come into force once both parties complete their respective domestic ratification processes.  There are significant Canadian investment opportunities in Nigeria, including in the extractive, information and communications technology, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.

Nigeria is Canada’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2006, annual bilateral trade between the two countries has more than doubled, reaching $2.3 billion by 2012. In 2011, Canadian direct investment in Nigeria totalled $36 million and is expected to grow as a result of this FIPA.