Letters to the Editor Energy Minister lauds free trade

I know that you will be vitally interested in the effect of the Canada/ U.S. free trade agreement on our economy and on our energy sector in particular.

I strongly believe that the agreement is a good one for Canada. It recognizes, above all, that the Canadian interest lies in the pursuit of open and competitive markets, for energy as much as for other commodities. It reflects the knowledge, gained from painful experience, that we cannot retreat from the realities of the international marketplace. And it reinforces our conviction that the key to economic development lies, not in pitting Canadians against each other, but in providing each region with the opportunity to fully exploit its resource endowment.

During the past three years, Canadian energy policy has undergone a fundamental revolution. Oil and gas prices have been deregulated, the petroleum sector has been given significantly increased access to export markets, and we are moving to reduce the regulatory burden on electricity exports.

I believe that the energy policy we have put in place, and the free trade agreement, reflect a new Canadian maturity. We are no longer seeking to promote growth through artificial controls on energy prices, to prop up some regions and industries at the expense of others. Rather, we seek the opportunity to compete fairly in the market place, and are confident in our ability to do so. The free trade agreement gives us this opportunity. Marcel Masse Minister, Energy, Mines and Resources Ottawa, Ont.