Cooperation at the Canada-U.S. Border: Confronting Challenges and Measuring Progress December 4, 2008

Meeting the challenge of complying with the provisions of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), while maintaining the free-flow of goods, services, and people across the border, remains a daunting challenge for both the Canadian and U.S. governments.

States in the northern United States and Canadian provinces have responded to this challenge through such initiatives as the creation and implementation of Enhanced Drivers Licenses, while federal officials have worked bilaterally to improve border infrastructure and implement pre-clearance programs to simplify and make border crossings more efficient.

How effective have bilateral initiatives been to address growing concerns over increased costs and delays at the border? Are sufficient resources available to upgrade infrastructure at border-crossings? How are states and provinces managing with federal mandates? What still needs to be done to create a more efficient yet safer northern border?

Please join the Canada Institute for a program that promises a timely exploration and bilateral discussion of these questions, as well as the future of the Canada-U.S. border.

Agenda

Keynote Luncheon

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Speaker: Stewart Baker, Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Meeting Federal Border Mandates: State and Provincial Initiatives

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Michael Abensour, National Affairs Attaché, Quebec Government Office (moderator)

Wayne Benjamin, Executive Deputy Commissioner, Department of Motor Vehicles, State of New York

Kathryn Bryk Friedman, Deputy Director, University at Buffalo Regional Institute

Ken Oplinger, President and CEO, Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Break

Progress and Remaining Challenges of Implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Marianne Rude, Legislative and Government Affairs, Washington Representative, Government of Manitoba (moderator)

Angelo Amador, Director, Immigration Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Colleen Manaher, WHTI Program Manager, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Janet Rumball, Director, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Canadian Border Services Agency

Official Website: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1420&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&event_id=481778