Government of Canada Updates Canadians on Progress Made Towards Canada's Economic Recovery

Canada’s Economic Action Plan creating jobs, stimulating communities from coast to coast to coast

OTTAWA, February 3, 2010 — Today, on behalf of the Government of Canada, the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the following statement:

“After an extremely difficult year, we are seeing signs that the economy is stabilizing.

“While there have been a number of positive economic indicators such as recent GDP growth, there is one statistic that is still too high — unemployment. The number of Canadians looking for work is unacceptable.

“As the Prime Minister has repeatedly said, the economy — specifically creating jobs — remains the top priority of the federal government.

“Over the past few weeks, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the caucus have engaged in a broad consultations process with Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The consultations were focused on getting the views of Canadians on three broad themes:

• Stimulating new job growth
• Protecting existing jobs
• Ensuring that our economy emerges from the recession in a stronger position than when it entered it

“While the consultations process is ongoing, it is time to take stock of where we are at and to start planning for the Budget and Speech from the Throne.

“Today and tomorrow, the Priorities and Planning Committee of Cabinet will meet at Wilson House on Meech Lake to further focus our efforts on the economy. The Prime Minister will lead a discussion on the best way to create jobs, opportunity and economic growth for all Canadians.

“To start the meeting, the Finance Minister provided:

• An overview of his pre-budget consultations
• An update on planning for the Budget
• The latest projections for economic growth

“Minister Flaherty, and Ministers Finley, Van Loan and I, will discuss policies and proposals to lead Canada into the economy of tomorrow — to ensure we excel against foreign competitors, assure our place on the world stage and capture the jobs that come with it.

“Ministers Paradis and Prentice will build on that discussion by presenting an assessment of how we can continue to create jobs by adapting new clean technologies to green energy opportunities.

“To ensure we have a workforce that is ready for tomorrow’s economy, Minister Finley will present fiscally responsible proposals to tackle unemployment and prepare Canadians for the jobs of tomorrow. We must ensure that Canada is ready to compete in traditional manufacturing industries and attract new industries and opportunities.

“These topics are all important ones as we take stock of the consultations we’ve done to date and start planning for the Budget and laying down longer-term plans in the Speech from the Throne.

“It’s clear that Canadians want us to continue to focus on the economy by creating jobs, opportunity and economic growth. And that is what the government intends to do over the next two days and beyond.

“We are consulting with Canadians, listening to their concerns and working to ensure our country’s future is strong and our prosperity secure.”

For further information (media only), please contact:

Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502