Rosenbaum & Frank LLP

                      

U.S. Consulate Briefing
led by Consul General John R. Nay
June 11, 2008
Burlington, Ontario

On June 11, 2008, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and AmCham Canada hosted a breakfast briefing led by U.S. Consul General John R. Nay at the Atrium Conference Centre in Burlington. Business and government representatives from Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington comprised the full capacity audience. Rod Miller, Vice President of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council introduced the U.S. Consul General who then made a brief presentation about the recent initiatives of the U.S. mission in Canada. Consul General Nay stressed the importance for Canada to adopt upgraded Intellectual Property Rights protection legislation needed as a result of the growth of the internet. He also discussed the SPP meeting in New Orleans and the perceived impact on NAFTA of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Consul General Nay pointed out that the Reagan administration negotiated NAFTA but the Clinton administration implemented it. He explained that the need for infrastructure upgrades at the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia and the Peace Bridge in Niagara are being addressed. He discussed the passport requirements, described the Nexus card system currently in effect and announced that the new U.S. passport card applications are now available for U.S. citizens.

Michael Keaveny of the U.S. Commercial Service and Linda Cheatham of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa participated in the presentation and the discussions. Mr. Keaveny explained the recent increase his office has seen in small to medium U.S. companies coming to Ontario to attract Canadian business. Linda Cheatham explained the role of the U.S. Consulate and Embassy in communicating with the commercial stakeholders in the community. She described the 16 websites that the U.S. mission has in Canada, 3 of which are in French. Michael Flaherty, Consul & Senior Trade Commissioner from the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo, New York was also in attendance and participated actively in the discussion. He explained the role of the Canadian mission in New York to assist Canadian businesses in the United States.
 
In attendance were Therese Thill, of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Nick Giacobbe, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate, Rob Burton, Mayor of the Town of Oakville, and AmCham Canada President Robert Bathgate. The event was sponsored by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Fogler, Rubinoff LLP. Martin Rosenbaum, partner with Fogler, Rubinoff LLP was the mc for the event.

Consul General John Nay briefing the business community in Burlington

L-R Rod Miller, Michael Keaveny, Michael Flaherty, Nicholas Giacobbe Jr., John Nay, Robert Bathgate, Linda Cheatham, Martin Rosenbaum

 

                                               

 

                               

                          

 

 

 

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