By Mike Oliveira
TORONTO (CP) - Liberal Leader Stephane Dion provided a preview Tuesday of what his forthcoming campaign speeches will sound like as he identified the economy, the environment, and social justice issues as key priorities during a speech to business leaders.
A prosperous economy and a healthy environment go hand in hand and if Canadian businesses are innovative, the country can be at the forefront of profitable green technologies, Dion told a breakfast crowd from the Economic Club of Toronto and Toronto Board of Trade.
"Countries that embrace the environment as a core priority will lead the global economy in the 21st century," Dion said.
"Their companies will become highly profitable by selling those solutions to the world. They will be shielded from the inevitably rising cost of energy by their strong commitment to energy efficiency. Their populations will have both higher incomes and a higher quality of life. I want Canada to be one of those countries."
Dion's first major speech in Toronto since becoming Liberal leader, clearly aimed at wooing the city's business community, focused on his plan to help corporate Canada thrive under a federal Liberal government.
He promised innovation policies to help Canadian companies succeed on the world's stage, highlighted Research In Motion Ltd. (TSX:RIM) of Waterloo, Ont. - inventor of the wildly successful Blackberry - as an example of what Canada can produce.
"Canadians are proud that the Blackberry, used throughout the world, is a Canadian invention. Yet, if Canada is to prosper, we need many Blackberry-style inventions across the country, produced by innovative Canadians in large or small companies," he said.
Businesses should especially target innovation in green-based industries, like clean renewable energy, clean fossil fuel technologies, and energy recovery technologies like oil sands and fuel cells, he said.
"If we can make Fort McMurray a centre for sustainable development, we will be able to do it everywhere in the world."
Dion said if elected prime minister, he would re-establish Canada's participation in the Kyoto Protocol and look ahead to future solutions in a post-Kyoto world.
He also said he intends to follow the legacies of the Chretien-Martin governments with balanced budgets, reduction of the federal debt and competitive taxes.
Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press
TORONTO (CP) - Liberal Leader Stephane Dion provided a preview Tuesday of what his forthcoming campaign speeches will sound like as he identified the economy, the environment, and social justice issues as key priorities during a speech to business leaders.
A prosperous economy and a healthy environment go hand in hand and if Canadian businesses are innovative, the country can be at the forefront of profitable green technologies, Dion told a breakfast crowd from the Economic Club of Toronto and Toronto Board of Trade.
"Countries that embrace the environment as a core priority will lead the global economy in the 21st century," Dion said.
"Their companies will become highly profitable by selling those solutions to the world. They will be shielded from the inevitably rising cost of energy by their strong commitment to energy efficiency. Their populations will have both higher incomes and a higher quality of life. I want Canada to be one of those countries."
Dion's first major speech in Toronto since becoming Liberal leader, clearly aimed at wooing the city's business community, focused on his plan to help corporate Canada thrive under a federal Liberal government.
He promised innovation policies to help Canadian companies succeed on the world's stage, highlighted Research In Motion Ltd. (TSX:RIM) of Waterloo, Ont. - inventor of the wildly successful Blackberry - as an example of what Canada can produce.
"Canadians are proud that the Blackberry, used throughout the world, is a Canadian invention. Yet, if Canada is to prosper, we need many Blackberry-style inventions across the country, produced by innovative Canadians in large or small companies," he said.
Businesses should especially target innovation in green-based industries, like clean renewable energy, clean fossil fuel technologies, and energy recovery technologies like oil sands and fuel cells, he said.
"If we can make Fort McMurray a centre for sustainable development, we will be able to do it everywhere in the world."
Dion said if elected prime minister, he would re-establish Canada's participation in the Kyoto Protocol and look ahead to future solutions in a post-Kyoto world.
He also said he intends to follow the legacies of the Chretien-Martin governments with balanced budgets, reduction of the federal debt and competitive taxes.
Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press