Mr. Speaker, I will begin by commending the Prime Minister on his skilful handling of the terrorist crisis and for keeping trade on the agenda during a recent meeting with President Bush. With $1.4 billion in ongoing trade between Canada and the U.S. every day the Prime Minister knows that the success of our businesses in the global market depends on the free flow of goods, people and services.
In my riding of Tobique--Mactaquac which borders the state of Maine constituents are acutely aware of the importance of an open border. For centuries we have enjoyed a unique friendship with our southern neighbours. It is a border that has united rather than divided us.
In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks the open character of our border has been called into question. Maintaining a balance between our security and our economy is vital. Effective border management cannot be achieved in isolation. We need joint initiatives to encourage the flow of people and goods across the border while at the same time protecting public health and safety. Simply put, we need to build bridges, not walls, between our two countries.
John F. Kennedy, speaking to parliament in May 1961, stated:
Geography has made us neighbours, history has made us friends, economics has made us partners, necessity has made us allies.
Never have these words rung so true as now.