The Commission's purpose is to engineer an enduring partnership among the ruling classes of North America, Western Europe and Japan - hence the term 'Trilateral' - in order to safeguard the interests of Western capitalism in an explosive world. The private commission is attempting to mold public policy and construct a framework for international stability in the coming decades.
To put it simply, Trilateralists are saying: the people, governments and economies of all nations must serve the needs of multinational banks and corporations.
In short, Trilateralism is the current attempt by ruling élites to
manage both dependence and democracy - at home and abroad (Spotlight, November 1992).
One can see therefore why it was expedient and necessary for Desmerais to join the Trilateral Commission before his foray into China. Everything was in place, and especially the Prime Minister of the country he was operating from.
Other Canadian members of the Trilateral Commission are Gerald K. Bouey, former Governor of the Bank of Canada; Conrad M. Black, Chairman of Argus; John D. Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Stelco; Raymond Cyr, President of Bell Canada Enterprises (Montréal); Peter Dobell, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (Ottawa), Marie-Josée Drouin, Hudson Institute of Canada (Montréal); Claude A. Edwards, Public Service Staff Relations Board (Ottawa); Allan Gottlieb, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States; David J. Henniger, Atlantic Regional Director, Burns Fry Ltd. (Halifax); Duff Roblin, Canadian Senate; Ron Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer, ATCO Ltd. (Calgary); William I.M. Turner, PCC Industrial Corporation (Montréal), and J. H. Warren, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States.
