Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has said the standing down of the IRA has opened up a new phase in Irish political life.
The West Belfast MP, who is in Toronto to address a Friends of Sinn Féin fundraising dinner, also said he briefed Canada's Prime Minister Paul Martin on recent developments in the peace process.
Mr Adams said there were now three great tasks of work facing republicans.
"The first is to ensure that the British and Irish governments are focused, decisive and creative and understand clearly the need to bed down the peace process. They need to implement the Good Friday Agreement as they have promised to do.
"The other big task is to end the scourge of sectarianism and to forge a new relationship between unionism and the rest of us."
Mr Adams says the third task for republicans was to achieve Irish independence and unity.
Mr Adams said he had taken the opportunity to thank the Canadian Government for its help and support for the Irish peace process and the involvement of Canadian experts like the head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning Gen John de Chastelain.
PA