Fiscal Discipline Essential As Economy Improves, Business Leaders Say Communiqués, March 4, 2010
	Statement By The Honourable John Manley On Today's Buy American Agreement Communiqués, February 5, 2010
	Hartley T. Richardson Elected Chair of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives Communiqués, January 21, 2010
	Thomas d'Aquino Bids Farewell And Announces Future Plans Communiqués, December 23, 2009

The Canada-United States and North American free trade agreements have proven to be extraordinary successes for Canada, the United States and Mexico. They have increased investment, employment and incomes in all three countries. But issues of trade and investment are now inextricably intertwined with those of defence and security. The need for a comprehensive North American strategy integrating economic and security issues led the Council to launch its North American Security and Prosperity Initiative (NASPI) in January 2003.

In April 2004, the Council published a major discussion paper titled New Frontiers: Building a 21st Century Canada-United States Partnership in North America. The paper made recommendations on issues such as tariff harmonization, rules of origin, trade remedies, energy strategy, core defence priorities and the need to strengthen Canada-United States institutions, including the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). The paper also addressed the process for developing and executing a comprehensive strategy, including the need for greater coordination across government departments, between federal and provincial governments and between the public and private sectors.

In addition to its own research and advocacy in this area, the CCCE was a key supporter of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America, a trilateral panel sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations. The final report of the task force put forward 39 specific recommendations aimed at making North America safer, creating a single economic space, spreading the benefits of economic development more evenly, and institutionalizing the North American partnership.

In March 2005, the leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico launched the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, a comprehensive agreement that advances the North American agenda in a multitude of concrete and practical ways that will improve the safety and economic wellbeing of Canadians and of our neighbours in North America. In 2006, they proceeded to establish a trilateral advisory body of business leaders, the North American Competitiveness Council, which the CCCE serves as the Canadian Secretariat.

The election in 2008 of Barack Obama as President of the United States created a new opportunity for Canada to reshape its bilateral relationship with its closest friend, ally and neighbour, and the Council is pursuing this goal with governments and with American business leaders.

At the same time, the Council remains a strong supporter of the Canada-Mexico Partnership (CMP), which was launched in 2004. The CCCE works closely with its Mexican counterpart, the Consejo Mexicano de Hombres de Negocios, to ensure effective business support in realizing the ambitious goals of the CMP.