[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 17 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Pages 652-654]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the American Embassy Community in Quebec

April 22, 2001

    Thank you. I used to call him Governor, I now call him Ambassador, 
I'll always call him friend. I appreciate you very much, Ambassador, and 
it's great to see your beautiful bride here, too.
    I first want to say something about your immediate boss; that's the 
Secretary of State. As you're going to find out, he is a man who 
respects the job you do, a man who loves his country, a man who is going 
to be a fabulous Secretary of State for America. And I think the other 
three Cabinet Secretaries who are up here might do a pretty good job, 
too. [Laughter]
    We've had a very interesting stay here in Quebec City. It turns out 
that Quebec City has now hosted three history-making summits. The first 
two in 1943 and 1944 involved only three world leaders. Therefore, they 
had it in one hotel. [Laughter] This one was a little more complex, it 
turns out. [Laughter]
    When I see how much work it is to organize a Presidential visit, it 
surprises me sometimes that I'm welcome anywhere. [Laughter] And so, I 
want to thank you very much for the job the U.S. Mission did in 
preparing for our arrival, not only making sure that the arrival was 
well prepared, that when we're here, that it went smoothly, and it did, 
and you're to be congratulated.
    We have no more important bilateral relationship than that with 
Canada. It's true the relationship doesn't always make the headlines in 
the United States. That's a good sign. [Laughter] Generally, when we 
make the news, it's because there is a dysfunctional relationship at 
hand. It shows what a good job you all are doing at relaying our 
priority to your fellow folks in the Foreign Service or civil service in 
Canada, that we care about our relationship, that America knows how 
important it is. And it's a vital relationship.

[[Page 653]]

    As the Ambassador noted, the statistics are strong--200 million 
border crossings a year. Canada is our biggest trading partner. Canada 
is the biggest exporter of energy to the United States. It's an 
important relationship. This administration will keep it that way, and I 
know you will join us in doing so.
    I just finished an interesting luncheon with Prime Minister Jean 
Chretien and President Vicente Fox about how to expand the unique 
relationship our three countries have, called NAFTA, as you know. But 
it's an incredibly important relationship. I first came--became aware of 
the relationship as the Governor of Texas. I saw how important it was 
for us to understand that family values don't stop at the Rio Bravo 
River, that family values--that there are people in Mexico who are 
hungry and worry about their children, who, if they can make a better 
living somewhere else, will do so. Oftentimes it was in my State; 
occasionally it was in--more than occasionally it was in other people's 
State.
    But I also saw the hope and promise of what trade could mean and 
good relations between the three of us. It meant better jobs in Mexico. 
It meant a mother or a dad might be able to find work closer to home, 
which is the aspiration of people in Mexico. It also means we've got 
to--it helps enable--to keep closer ties with Canada. And for that I'm 
grateful.
    And so our discussions today was how to expand and strengthen NAFTA. 
And one way we can do so is through energy. America is short on energy; 
Canada is long on energy. America is short on energy; Mexico, with the 
right policy, could be long on energy. And so our discussions today were 
not only on other subjects but we talked about establishing an energy 
group for the hemisphere, which we will do.
    And the reason I bring this up is that it's an indication of why 
this future--our relationship is just as strong in the future as it is 
today. And it makes eminent sense for us to continue to work with our 
friends and allies in our hemisphere.
    I leave the summit very optimistic about what took place here, 
because I want you to think about this interesting fact. We had all but 
one country represented here, because all but one country in our 
hemisphere has embraced democracy. For some of you oldtimers--I'm trying 
to find a few--there looks like a guy who might be an oldtimer. 
[Laughter] You know, we couldn't have said that long ago. It's an 
amazing fact. It's a wonderful testimony to freedom and democracy. So 
I'm very optimistic about what took place here. It gives us a great 
chance to expand the opportunities around our hemisphere, knowing that 
it will help our own country.
    I've always believed that it's--the best foreign policy is one that 
improves your own neighborhood first. And so when I say a priority of 
ours is this hemisphere, it's not idle chitchat; it's reality, as 
witnessed by the fact that my first summit was a summit with leaders 
from our own neighborhood.
    I want to say something about your Ambassador. He is a--you'll find 
him to be a good listener, a strong American. He is going to be a 
thoughtful manager. He's really a good guy. He's a good guy. [Laughter] 
And he married, like me, above his head. [Laughter]
    I, too, want to thank the Deputy Chief of Missions, Steve Kelly. I 
want to thank the acting--the Consul General in Quebec City. I want to 
thank Nick Nixon, as well. I want to thank Roberta Smolik--Robin 
Smolik--Robert Smolik. [Laughter] I want to thank the guy who wrote this 
on the card wrong. [Laughter] Knowing how the Presidency works, there's 
a card writer somewhere pulling his hair out now. [Laughter] I want to 
thank Marina Nalli. Did I get it right? [Applause]
    I want to thank you all very much on the American side for your hard 
work. I also want to thank Rejjie Tremblay. He made sure I got to my 
meetings on time. [Laughter] I hope word has filtered out of Washington 
that I believe on starting meetings on time. [Laughter] I don't believe 
in making people wait. I want to make sure that Lori Fortin gets thanks, 
as well. Not one member of this huge delegation had to sleep on a couch, 
thanks to you. [Laughter] I want to thank Fred Bishop. He's known as 
Emergency Guy. [Laughter] He fixed problems before they became 
emergencies.
    I want to tell you all how much I appreciate your service to the 
country. It's more than just making sure the mission works--

[[Page 654]]

however, this mission worked well--it's to make sure the mission always 
works. I want to thank you for understanding that there is something 
greater than yourself in life, and that's the greatest country on the 
face of the Earth.
    God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 4:13 p.m. at the Loews le Concorde Hotel. 
In his remarks, he referred to U.S. Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci 
and his wife, Jan Garnett; Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada; 
President Vicente Fox of Mexico; and Lois Aroian, U.S. Consul General in 
Quebec.