Minister Fast Highlights Benefits of Economic Action Plan 2013 for British Columbia

Jobs, growth and long-term prosperity remain Harper government’s top priority

March 22, 2013 - The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today visited Port Metro Vancouver to highlight how Economic Action Plan 2013 will benefit workers and families in every region of British Columbia and across Canada.

“Our government remains solidly focused on what matters to Canadians: jobs, growth and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Fast. “Since the depth of the global economic recession, the Canadian economy has created over 950,000 net new jobs—the best record among advanced economies. However, we still face significant threats from a fragile global economy and we must continue to take steps that position Canada for long-term economic success.”

In addition to committing to eliminate the deficit and balance the budget in 2015, Economic Action Plan 2013 focuses on creating jobs and economic growth by taking action in three important areas:

• Connecting Canadians with available jobs by introducing the Canada Job Grant, creating opportunities for apprentices and supporting job opportunities for all Canadians;
• Introducing a new Building Canada Plan—which represents the largest investment in job creating infrastructure in the history of Canada—a plan that will support new projects in cities and towns across Canada; and
• Supporting Canada’s manufacturing sector by providing tax relief for new manufacturing equipment and support for Canada’s manufacturers as they compete and innovate in the 21st century global economy.

Economic Action Plan 2013 also announced that a refreshed Global Commerce Strategy, including the important International Education Strategy component, will be announced in the coming months.

“Canada’s long-term prosperity requires us to continue to diversify our trading relationships and establish new, permanent links to large, dynamic and fast-growing economies around the world,” said Minister Fast. “As part of the most ambitious trade expansion plan our country has ever seen, we will continue to open new markets for our exporters and ensure they have the tools and services they need to expand and succeed abroad.”

Since 2006, Canada has concluded new free trade agreements with nine countries and is currently engaged in 19 sets of free trade negotiations covering 74 countries. Canada also has 24 foreign investment promotion and protection agreements in force around the world and is negotiating many more.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Rudy Husny
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-7332
rudy.husny@international.gc.ca

Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
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