October 27, 2007

Blair in Canada

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair used his first public visit to Canada since retiring from politics four months ago to heap praise on almost everything Canadian -- from its cities and soldiers to its energy reserves and wine. Blair told a sold-out, lunchtime event in Calgary on Friday that Canada's role on the international stage is destined to grow. Blair's wide-ranging speech touched on a variety of challenges facing the world, drawing on insights from his decade as prime minister and his new role as Middle East envoy for the United Nations, the European Union, the U.S. and Russia.

He said globalization is happening "at an enormous pace'' and is now a fact of life. He cited a recent $5-billion foray into the Canadian oilpatch by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. as proof of the inter-dependence of today's world.

No comments: