Archive for the ‘June 2012’ Category

June 15, 2012: The Great Donut War

Friday, June 15th, 2012

Guest blogger: David S. Ferriero, Archivist of the United States

Beer, Doughnuts, and the War of 1812

The Great Donut War of '12


Last week the staffs of the National Archives and the Canadian Embassy here in Washington gathered to commemorate the War of 1812 in a special way—The Great Doughnut War of ’12, pitting Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme against Tim Hortons. Three celebrity judges—two from the National Archives and one from the Canadian Embassy participated in a blind taste testing.

Judges from the National Archives and one from the Canadian Embassy participated in a blind donut taste testing


The Great Donut War Ballot Box


And the attendees all had a chance to vote as the doughnuts were served on separate unlabeled platters. Lest you think the two to one odds—doughnuts and judges—were unfair, let me point out that the event was held in MY HOUSE!

The U.S. National Archives


The tension built during the day when we learned that the delivery of Tim Hortons to the Embassy resulted in potential disaster.

Donut Disaster


Claiming SABOTAGE by the competition, the resourceful Embassy staff hoofed it to one of America’s few Tim Hortons in Baltimore for replacements.

We treated our Canadian friends to a display of facsimiles of records pertaining to the War of 1812 and beer!

http://www.ourarchives.wikispaces.net/The+Great+Doughnut+War+of+1812

And we ended the evening with a special screening of my favorite movie, “Strange Brew” — the source of everything I know and love about Canada!

David S. Ferriero
Archivist of the United States

P.S. Tim Hortons was the victor — both by popular vote and celebrity vote. A recount is underway!

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Posted in June 2012 |

June 14, 2012: Economic Statecraft Day

Thursday, June 14th, 2012

Today is Global Economic Statecraft Day. When I heard that the U.S. State Department would be celebrating this day, my first thought was “every day in Canada is Economic Statecraft Day.” Our job is to help keep the wheels of the largest trading relationship in the world rolling and Economic Statecraft is how we do that. Our team at the Embassy in Ottawa and our seven consulates throughout Canada work tirelessly to ensure that the $1.8 billion in trade that crosses our shared border every day continues to flow in both directions and that the U.S.-Canadian economic relationship thrives.

I am in Vancouver today, meeting with business leaders to learn more about the business climate in British Columbia, opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation on trade issues, and views on regulatory and border issues including the Regulatory Cooperation Council and Beyond the Border initiatives.

So what is Economic Statecraft, not just today, but every day? Economic Statecraft is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s vision to put economics at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy. It means using smart economic foreign policy to promote the North American marketplace. It is a realization that security and prosperity are shaped in boardrooms and trading floors as well as in capital buildings and international summits. In Canada, Economic Statecraft means ensuring that our tremendous economic interdependence strengthens our relationships with each other and in the world.

In The Lexus and the Olive Tree, award-winning journalist Thomas Friedman wrote that no two countries with a McDonald’s restaurant have ever gone to war. This reflects an important point that economic interdependence breeds peace and stability. This, at its core, is Economic Statecraft and there is no better example of successful economic statecraft than in the U.S.-Canada relationship. Our trillion dollar trade and investment relationship creates close political and social connections and these political and social connections lead to even more trade. This “virtuous cycle” of friendships creating trade and trade creating friendships is exactly what Economic Statecraft is all about.

DJ

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Posted in June 2012 |

June 11, 2012: Beyond the Border Updates

Monday, June 11th, 2012

When President Obama and Prime Minister Harper announced the Beyond the Border Action Plan last December, I said that opportunities for stakeholders to participate in the process and feedback from people who deal with the border every day would be integral to implementation. We need your views, and we expect you to hold our feet to the fire. Success depends on our willingness to hear what you have to say and act on it.

Over the past few weeks, the Action Plan has taken significant steps forward.

In February, I made an announcement at Montreal’s Trudeau Airport for one of the new NEXUS lanes we’ve created at several international airports. This is one of the most tangible achievements. Making it easier for trusted travelers and frequent travelers to cross the border will help reduce wait times and let U.S. and Canadian law enforcement focus resources on transit that needs more scrutiny.

On May 14, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney announced joint consultations with stakeholders on cross-border business. These consultations will gather input and ideas to facilitate cross border business travel. Secretary Napolitano attended the first joint consultation in Washington, and Minister Kenney attended a similar consultation in Toronto. Stakeholders who couldn’t attend either meeting can send comments to the Department of Homeland Security by email until June 15 at BeyondtheBorder@hq.dhs.gov.

On May 31, the U.S. and Canada announced that we have agreed to the mutual recognition of air cargo security. Cargo on passenger aircraft will be screened at the point of origin and will not need to be rescreened at the border or prior to upload in the other country. This will facilitate commerce across the border, improve the efficiency of screening, and reduce burdens on and costs to industry.

We are moving forward. Individual steps may not be flashy, but taken together, they will make a concrete difference in how goods and people move across the border. They will facilitate trade, encourage travel and create jobs in a time when all are very much needed.

More information about the entire Action Plan can be found on the Department of Homeland Security website at www.dhs.gov/beyond-the-border.

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Posted in June 2012 |

June 8, 2012: Canada’s National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Last January, the U.S. Embassy, and my wife Julie, brought renowned photojournalist Mimi Chakarova and her award-winning film, The Price of Sex, to Ottawa to highlight the tragic destruction of trafficking in persons. While the film focused on the grim brutality of sex trafficking, the reality is that there are many kinds of trafficking, including forced labor and domestic servitude. The US and Canada are committed partners in the worldwide combat against these horrific practices that destroy human dignity. And that’s why I and the whole U.S. government welcome the release Wednesday of Canada’s National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. It establishes a robust and impressive framework to coordinate law enforcement and awareness efforts, and introduces new initiatives to prevent trafficking, prosecute traffickers, and create new partnerships with civil society and other countries. The U.S. government and the American people are proud to join hands and forces with the Government of Canada and all Canadians, and work together to wipe out this scourge of modern-day slavery.

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Posted in June 2012 |