Archive for September, 2010

Harper Government Opens New Markets for P.E.I.
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

The following is excerpted from the 27 September 2010 news release by DFAIT.

The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, today congratulated Prince Edward Island’s entrepreneurs for looking beyond Canada’s borders. The Minister was addressing the annual Diplomatic Forum being held in Charlottetown.

“Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have always been great traders,” said Minister Van Loan. “The traditional export products of seafood and agriculture have been supplemented by pharmaceutical and aerospace products, which have maintained the East Coast provinces’ reputation as world traders.”

Between 2004 and 2009, 32 percent of Atlantic Canada’s gross domestic product came from international trade, two percentage points higher than the national average.

The Harper government contributes to P.E.I.’s participation in the global economy. With a regional office in Charlottetown, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) partners with the provincial government and key federal partners, such as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), to encourage local businesses to go global…

The TCS, Innovation PEI and ACOA have an ambitious foreign trade agenda this year with Trade Team Prince Edward Island. Trade missions are planned to New England, New York City and area, Philadelphia, Florida, Japan, and the Caribbean region, as well as to various U.S. and international trade shows.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada also offers funding programs that are helping P.E.I. businesses find new partners around the world.

Going Global Innovation is supporting Neurodyn Inc., a company focusing on neurological diseases. An $18,781 contribution helped the company sign a memorandum of understanding with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to research epilepsy.

Invest Canada-Community Initiatives is supporting the community of Summerside with a $24,200 contribution to help it further develop and attract foreign investment that creates jobs in P.E.I.

And just this week, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada was a partner with Innovation PEI, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the P.E.I. BioAlliance, and the Centre for Health and Biotech Management Research (University of Prince Edward Island) in hosting high-profile and internationally renowned venture capitalists during National Biotechnology Week.

Planned border closings rankle communities
Thursday, September 9th, 2010

The following is excerpted from the 4 September 2010 edition of “montrealgazette.com”.

Opposition is growing to the Canadian Border Security Agency’s (CBSA’s) recent decision to close two Canadian border stations south of Montreal next spring.

The mayor of Franklin, Suzanne Blair, will be holding a news conference next week to launch a petition drive. And the largest employer in the region, Les Vergers Leahy, has written federal authorities a strong letter of protest.

News of the proposed closings has also been greeted negatively south of the border.

Gary Douglas, president of the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce, told Plattsburgh’s Press-Republican that the unilateral decision by Canada to close the two border stations violates the 2002 U.S.-Canada Smart Border Accord.

“The failure of the Canadian government to co-ordinate with the U.S. government is absolutely mind-boggling,” he said.

The two border stations south of Montreal are among three nationally that were tagged last month by the CBSA for closing next April, because of budget cuts.

The Franklin Centre and Jamieson’s Line border stations are situated south of the towns of Franklin and Huntingdon, respectively. The third station slated for closing next spring is on the Saskatchewan-Montana border…

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have asked to meet with their CBSA counterparts to explore ways of maintaining two-way traffic. The Americans don’t like the idea of one-way border crossings where you can get into the U.S. from Canada but can’t get into Canada from the U.S…

Contacted yesterday by The Gazette, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Raphael Lemaitre said the CBP has suspended renovations at the Franklin Centre/ Churubasco crossing, and the Saskatchewan/Montana one, because of the CBSA’s proposed port closures. He said American officials want to “develop a joint solution that ensures the continued security interests of both countries. During this time, CBP will also explore alternatives with CBSA to enable the continued facilitation of two-way traffic.”…