Rideau Hall, Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

Excellency, I am so pleased that you are undertaking a visit to Canada, or perhaps I should call this a homecoming of sorts. You know this country so well, having worked here for many years, as well as having served as ambassador to Canada.

And we are pleased to have you here once again, particularly since our two countries have so much potential as we continue to work together.

Canada and Estonia have deep historical links, but it is in our people-to-people bonds that the real potential lies.

Canada is home to one of the largest Estonian communities outside of your country. As such, we are building cultural bridges that allow us to understand one another. Canadians are delighted by Estonian films, operas, even jazz performances. And many Canadians have also had the opportunity to share their art with Estonia.

This understanding leads to even more avenues of sharing. Estonia’s openness to technology and innovation serves as an example to countries all over the world.

Estonia has embraced new technologies, and we can all learn from your country’s forward-thinking achievements. Already, Estonia has one of the most advanced e-governments in the world, and its people are among the most connected.

Excellency, you and your delegation no doubt know these numbers, but I want to make them known to everyone here because they are so impressive: 77 per cent of Estonians use the Internet; 72 per cent of households have Internet access; all Estonian schools are connected; and every single town and village has access.

Freedom House, in fact, ranked Estonia first in the world for Internet freedom, with excellent cause. The digital coverage is broad and total, an impressive feat considering that Estonia only regained its independence in 1991.

Just over 20 years later, and we are extolling the virtues of your open, transparent and highly advanced society that builds better access for its citizens, as well as better opportunities for business, with more tech start-ups per capita than any other European country. And, as shown by your leadership of the European Union’s cloud computing council and NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, your country is respected as a global leader.

All this because Estonia and its leaders—in both government and civil society—know that innovation is one of the keys to success.

Canada itself is no stranger to technological advances and innovation, and that is why I believe there is so much that we can learn from each other. This is one area in which I am particularly interested, and I look forward to further exploring this topic with you, Excellency.

We may be modest partners in the global market, but we are well-positioned for growth in all areas, including greater trade and investment and even more sharing of knowledge. However, it is up to us, in this room and throughout our respective nations, to foster our relationship, to let it mature and grow to the benefit of both our peoples.

Canada and Estonia proudly share the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, values for which your country has struggled to achieve and which Canada has supported throughout the years. And today, as we look back on the reestablishment of bilateral relations since your country’s independence, as we look back on the obstacles your people have overcome and the tremendous progress you have made, Canada is proud to call you and your people partners, allies, and, most importantly, friends.

I have every confidence that we will continue to strengthen our ties, and that we will do so together.

I would like to raise a glass to our growing friendship and to all Canadians and Estonians. 

Thank you.