Archive for the ‘October 2009’ Category

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October 29, 2009 – Toronto

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Yesterday we drove from Banff to Calgary (beautiful) and then flew to Toronto (long). After attending a meeting with Toronto business leaders, the Consul General in Toronto, Kevin Johnson, and I went to the opening night game between the Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers with Lebron James and his new teammate Shaq. We were joined by former Canadian Ambassador to the US Frank McKenna and Rob Prichard, the President of Metrolinx and the former President of the University of Toronto. As you have probably seen, the Raptors won a great game that was closer than the 10 point score at the end. It was great fun. The Air Canada Center was rocking. Reminded me of the glory days of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

This morning we met with the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, David Onley. I had a very interesting discussion with the Lieutenant Governor, who is a champion of disability rights issues, about the comparison in the laws and attitudes toward people with disabilities in the US and Canada. I shared stories with him about my relationship with a dear friend in the White House who was himself disabled and who taught me a great deal about the issues faced by people with disabilities.

I then went off to the Economic Club of Canada where I gave a speech about the state of the relationship between the United States and Canada. Before the speech, I had a chance to visit with Mayor Vic Fedeli of North Bay, Ontario – who was sporting his traditional non-partisan yellow tie — and Mayor Rick Bonnette of Halton Hills, Ontario. Both mayors have been active in reaching across the border to their counterparts in US cities and towns to discuss the impacts of Buy America on their economies. We had good and cordial discussions of the issue. I explained to both that the President is a firm believer in free trade. I was pleased we were able to meet.

I then had an opportunity to meet with Premier McGuinty of Ontario. We discussed a variety of issues which impact on Ontario. And we traded stories about our first car trips across the border. The Premier has a hilarious story about how his parents took their eight kids (two more were subsequently born) in the station wagon and drove to Florida. By mistake they left the Premier’s four year old brother at a gas station after a rest stop. The Premier noted that had there been a democratic vote among the remaining kids in the car, they might have continued on to Florida. However, his father reasserted control and went back. The Premier’s fondness for the people of the United States was sealed when he saw that two kind-hearted gas station attendants had taken such good care of his little brother “who was no worse for wear.” I told him about my trip with my family from Chicago to Niagara Falls when my dad stopped the car on the line on the Ambassador Bridge.

Last night I was privileged to present three awards to Dr. Richard Losick, Dr. Lucy Shapiro and Dr. Peter Walter at the 50th annual Gairdner Awards dinner. Dr. John Dirks, the President of the Gairdner Foundation explained that 69 of the former Gairdner award winners had subsequently received Nobel Prizes. To celebrate the 50th anniversary many of the past awardees were in the room. Dr. Dirks noted that it was perhaps the greatest collection of scientific minds in a single room in the history of Canada. I can assure you he was not looking my way when he said that!
DJ

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Posted in October 2009 |

October 26, 2009 – Edmonton – More oil sands; a trip to school and the opening of the Alberta Legislative Assembly

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

As part of my effort to learn as much as I can and to hear from all sides about the oil sands I met with representatives of the Pembina Institute, an environmental NGO that has spent many years focused on the oil sands. We had an interesting discussion about the regulatory processes in Alberta and at the federal level. We talked about the stress on the environment as well as the state of the technology being employed to extract the bitumen. Striking the right balance between energy security and the environment is a complex issue and I am listening to all sides with great interest.

We then went to the highlight of the day. Julie and I visited the Prince Charles Elementary School, a school of choice for Aboriginal children in Edmonton. This is a school that offers a program especially designed for urban Aboriginal children. Many students travel a couple of hours or more a day just to attend this school. I visited with a group of 5th and 6th graders in the school library. They had studied all about Barack Obama and the U.S. election with the librarian who is from Louisiana. The kids and I talked about my experiences with the President. I explained that if anyone had said to Barack Obama in the 5th or 6th grade that some day he would be living in the White House he wouldn’t have believed it. So it was important for each of them to be like the President, study hard and be good citizens. Who knows … maybe someday one of them would be the Prime Minister of Canada. We then went to the music room where another group of 4th 5th and 6th graders gave a concert on violin and guitar for Julie and me. The highlight was a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. It was great fun and it reminded me of how important art and music were to my elementary education. Even though I’m not an artist or a musician, it made me more creative in everything else I do and it sure made school more fun.

Ambassador Jacobson with with Grade 5-6 students from Prince Charles Elementary School

Ambassador Jacobson with Grade 5-6 students from Prince Charles Elementary School

We left the school and drove to the Legislature Building and met with Ken Kowalski, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Rob Renner, the Minister of the Environment, Mel Knight, the Minister of Energy, and Len Webber, the Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations. Afterwards, Minister Webber and his wife Heather hosted a lunch with a group of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and business leaders. I then had a chance to watch the opening of the new legislative session. There is a special tradition in the Alberta legislature. When someone in the gallery (in this case me) is introduced, the person making the introduction asks the Speaker and the MLAs to give “the traditional warm welcome” at which point all members pound on their desks. It was a real treat.

Ambassador Jacobson and Premier Stelmach

Ambassador Jacobson and Premier Stelmach

I then had a great conversation with Premier Stelmach. While we spent a good chunk of our time discussing the issues of the day: energy and the environment, trade, intergovernmental relations, etc. we also compared our family histories. Each of us had ancestors who came to North America from Europe around the turn of the 20th century. The Premier’s family settled on a farm in Alberta. Mine came to Chicago. Both had nothing except a hope for a better life. We both took pride in how those brave and industrious souls would have felt in seeing us in our respective positions.

We finished the day with a dinner hosted by the leaders of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce where I learned more about the city and its business climate. Tomorrow it’s off to Banff. It’s supposed to snow!!! DJ

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Posted in October 2009 |

Thanks for the mail

Monday, October 26th, 2009

I continue to receive many positive responses to my blog and although I can’t respond to each and every one of you who have taken the time to write, I would like to again say how delighted I am to hear from you. Julie and I would like to meet and get to know as many Canadians as possible while we are here; I see this blog as a good start in that direction. So thank you for your congratulations and your best wishes, for sharing your concerns, and for your suggestions about where I should visit, which blogs I should read, and even about winter wear! You are teaching me little by little more about Canada and what it is that Canadians care about.

One of the concerns some of you have shared with me is on wait times for visas. We are aware of and sensitive to the issue. For specific questions related to consular matters, though, your first stop for information is our website: www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov.

Finally, Stuart, it was nice meeting you too. I’ll be following progress with the museum with great interest. And Richard, I promise we are listening to Canadian concerns. Thank you for the book recommendations, I will have to check those out. DJ

Posted in October 2009 |

Jack Poole

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

I was deeply moved by the outpouring of emotion at the passing of Jack Poole. His impact in business, in sport, in philanthropy and elsewhere is legendary, and I know that when I visit Vancouver, his winning spirit will be evident in every aspect of the preparations for the Olympic Games. Julie and I send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Darlene.
DJ

Posted in October 2009 |

Back in Ottawa

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

This morning I had breakfast with my old law school friend John Podesta, who is currently the President of the Center for American Progress (CAP), the leading progressive think tank in Washington. Prior to forming CAP, John was the Chief of Staff to President Clinton. John was very smart and thoughtful 30 years ago when we sat together in class. And he hasn’t lost a step. He spoke about his efforts at CAP and the priorities of the Obama Administration which John has had such a hand in shaping. He was the co-chair of President Obama’s transition team and 50 of his CAP alumni are serving in the Obama Administration — including several good friends of mine in the White House. Also at breakfast were Ambassador Doer, back from Washington, Ministers Prentice and Flaherty, and several others from the United States and Canada.

I then had the honor of joining Speaker of the Senate, Noel Kinsella, Senators Angus and Johnson, and some of their staff for lunch in the Speaker’s dining room. As luck would have it, this was the same room, and I was in the same chair, that President Obama used during his visit to Ottawa in February. The Speaker showed me a framed photo of the occasion and the pen the President used to sign the House and Senate guest books. I was honored that it warranted such a prominent place in such an important room.

With Speaker of the Senate Noel Kinsella

With Speaker of the Senate Noel Kinsella

In Speaker of the Senate Noel Kinsella's office

In Speaker of the Senate Noel Kinsella's office

After lunch we watched the weekly Speaker’s Long Parade led by Speaker Kinsella, the President Pro Tempore, the Usher of the Black Rod, the Mace Bearer and others. Unlike the daily Speaker’s Parade, the Long Parade marches down the north corridor, through Confederation Hall, approaching the Chamber from the heart of the Centre Block. We then went to the Governor General’s Gallery where we watched the opening of the Senate session. Speaker Kinsella was kind enough to introduce me to the Senate which was a warm moment.

I particularly enjoyed watching the Senate Pages. My son was a Page in the United States Senate. It brought back fond memories of Julie and I watching endless hours of CSPAN waiting for our son to deliver an amendment or to bring someone a glass of water. DJ.

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Oct 21, 2009 – Winnipeg and Montreal

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Monday was a special day in Winnipeg. We were privileged to attend the swearing in of Greg Selinger, the new Premier of Manitoba. The excitement in the room reminded me of how Julie and I felt on a very cold January day in Washington when President Obama took his oath of office. Both events were celebrations of the thing we all cherish most deeply – the orderly and peaceful transition of power. While it was a coincidence that we arrived on this special day, I am so glad we had a chance to witness it.

Lest you think I was taking the rest of the day off, we spent the morning learning about the new Canadian Human Rights Museum, a cause I have great interest in. We toured the Winnipeg Art Gallery, which has the largest collection of Inuit art in the world. We also enjoyed the photo exhibition of the great Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh which came to the museum from the Art Institute of Chicago in my home town. We visited with Lieutenant Governor Lee and his wife, Anna, in the historic Blue Room of the Legislative Building after the swearing in of Premier Selinger. We had lunch with Grand Chief Evans of the Manitoba tribes at the Chocolate Shop Restaurant that is operated by the tribes as a training facility for their people. By coincidence a TV crew was there doing a piece on the restaurant and I finally was able to do something I’m expert at: food critic. I highly recommend the bison stew.

Grand Chief Evans and the Ambassador

Grand Chief Evans and the Ambassador


During the afternoon I inspected the troops and the facilities at the Air Command of the Canadian NORAD Region. I then met with Mayor Sam Katz of Winnipeg. In addition to discussing the role of cities in the 21st century, we talked at length about a topic the mayor and I are both very fond of – baseball. He owns the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern league. I have been to games of another team in the Northern League, the Schaumburg Flyers, outside Chicago. And we compared Wrigley Field stories.

After a meeting with civic leaders, Julie and I went to the Manitoba Theatre Centre to take in the one man show “Five O’clock Bells” about the tragic life of legendary Canadian jazz guitarist Lenny Breau.

On Tuesday morning we had breakfast with Premier Selinger. We had a chance to get to know one another and I look forward to working with him during my time here in Canada. Then it was off to Montreal where we spent a couple of hours with my son Jeremy who is a student at McGill. We met with the Principal of McGill, Heather Munroe-Blum. We had a broad ranging discussion about higher education in our two countries as well as opportunities to work together in the future.

Last night I attended the welcome event for the Canadian American Business Council and later had dinner with Premier Charest and several community leaders from Quebec and the United States.

Ambassador Jacobson at the CABC

Ambassador Jacobson at the CABC


This morning I spoke to the CABC attendees about the state of the relationship between our two countries. Now we’re on our way back to Ottawa for a couple of welcome nights in my own bed. DJ

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October 18, 2009 – Train to Winnipeg; Ambassador Doer

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

This morning we left Saskatoon on the Via Rail “Canadian” train bound for Winnipeg. I love trains. There is something so romantic about climbing up the steps and finding your berth. It felt like we were going to meet up with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in the dining car. Speaking of dining cars … this one is great. They feed you a gourmet meal about every two hours. They may have to carry me down the steps when we arrive.

The scenery is beautiful. The sun is out and as far as we can see in very direction there are golden wheat fields broken up by occasional rivers and valleys. It is very peaceful.

For the last three hours of the trip we were joined by Gary Doer, the new Canadian Ambassador to the United States, and his wife Ginny. This was Ambassador Doer’s last day in Manitoba. He heads off to Washington tomorrow morning. It was very kind of him to spend time with me and Julie.

The Jacobsons and the Doers on the train to Winnipeg

The Jacobsons and the Doers on the train to Winnipeg

The Jacobsons and the Doers arrive in Winnipeg

The Jacobsons and the Doers arrive in Winnipeg

We had a great conversation about our respective experiences in preparing to take on our ambassadorial roles. We shared stories about favorite places in our respective countries. We discussed the important issues we will both be working on over the next few years: trade, energy and the environment, foreign policy, and others. Most importantly we agreed on the importance of an open dialogue in order to help our respective countries work together toward our common interests. I hope Ambassador Doer likes Washington; I’m certain Washington will like him. DJ

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October 17, 2009 – Saskatchewan

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

We had breakfast with the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Gordon Barnhart and then took a tour of the Depot Division of the RCMP where Assistant Commissioner Dale McGowan showed us the training facilities that are the first step for every RCMP recruit. After a turn in the driving simulator I realized I don’t have a career ahead of me in law enforcement.

At the RCMP chapel in Regina

At the RCMP chapel in Regina


We then drove from Regina to Saskatoon. The countryside was beautiful and we were lucky enough to drive past two lakes where the snow geese were assembling for their trip south. When we were approaching the first lake I saw tens of thousands of white lumps on the lake. I had no idea what they were. As we got closer I was amazed at the assemblage. I understand they congregate in the same locations every year. How do they know?

We then joined Peter MacKinnon, the President of the University of Saskatchewan for a tour of the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron. Since I am not a nuclear physicist I must say a lot of the technology went over my head. But I was impressed that the largest science project in Canada was located in Saskatoon. I was also impressed with the level of cooperation between the CLS and similar projects in the United States and around the world. A similar facility is being built in Lebanon for researchers from nations in the Middle East. World leaders (and diplomats) have a lot to learn from scientists.

After watching the Stampeders and the Roughriders on TV fight to a tie (which allowed me to be diplomatic to my friends in both Alberta and Saskatchewan) we had dinner with Rob Norris, the Saskatchewan Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labor, along with his wife Martha (who is a professor of American History at the University of Saskatchewan) and a large group of people who are active in civic affairs. Their pride in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan was palpable.
One thing Rob mentioned was that the room we were eating in was the same one where he and many Saskatoon citizens had watched the returns on November 4 when Barack Obama was elected. That a group of citizens from Saskatoon were interested enough in the US political process to spend their night watching our results was very rewarding and emblematic of the closeness of our two people.

Tomorrow it’s off to Manitoba.

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Posted in October 2009 |

Regina, Saskatchewan

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Friday morning we took the short flight from Calgary to Regina. We met our hosts for the day, Premier Brad Wall and his lovely wife Tami. Julie and Tami toured Regina while the Premier and I had a great discussion of our political experiences, the challenges and opportunities facing Saskatchewan and western Canada, and the close state of the relationship between his province and the United States – particularly the neighboring states of Montana and North Dakota. I also got a detailed briefing on Saturday’s big game between the Roughriders and the Stampeders. (Premier Wall has a weekly sports radio show where he makes his picks in the CFL and the NFL.) Among other things, I learned that Saskatchewan is responsible for about 1/3 of the world’s mustard production. So the next time I have a hot dog at Wrigley Field in Chicago I’ll be thinking of Saskatchewan!!

Premier Brad Wall and Ambassador Jacobson

Premier Brad Wall and Ambassador Jacobson


We also had a chance to visit with Don Toth, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, June Draude, the Provincial Secretary, and a variety of civic, business and educational leaders in the Province. The Premier and I then flew to the world’s largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility located in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. This is a great story and could be part of the solution to address carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Canada, the United States and around the world. I learned that CO2 from the Great Plains coal gasification plant in Beulah, North Dakota is compressed and shipped via pipeline to a mature oil field in Weyburn where it is used for enhanced oil recovery.

At a CO2 capture project site in Weyburn, Saskatchewan

At a CO2 capture project site in Weyburn, Saskatchewan

The CO2 is pumped in to the existing well structure at very high pressures where it mixes with the oil trapped in the rock and allows the oil to escape. As the oil is brought back to the surface, the CO2 is separated and recycled back into the wells for the next loop to extract more oil. Not only does this enhanced oil recovery process allow Weyburn to continue producing 28,000 barrels per day from wells that would otherwise have been abandoned, it will store over 30 million tons of CO2 during the life of the project (through 2035). That reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is equivalent to getting 6.7 million cars off the road for a year. While this project does seem to be a great success, there is still much work and study that needs to be done before it can be used commercially in other contexts such as to capture the CO2 at coal fired power plants. I was pleased to see the level of cooperation between the coal gasification plant in my country and the CCS facility in Canada.

The Ambassador with Royal Regina Rifles Regiment Reservists

The Ambassador with Royal Regina Rifles Regiment Reservists

But the highlight of the day was unquestionably the chance Julie and I had to go with Premier Wall to a dinner honoring a group of Royal Regina Rifles Regiment Reservists who are about to deploy to Afghanistan. It truly was my honor to meet and talk with these young men (one of whom was about to embark on this third tour of duty in Afghanistan). It reminded me and Julie that we are not sending statistics or even just soldiers off to war. We are sending people. Brave young men and women with mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and wives and husbands. I hope to welcome them back upon their safe return. It was a humbling experience to be in their presence. DJ

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Red Deer – October 15

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Today we drove across Alberta (the snow is melting) and we spent several hours in Red Deer. The area reminds me a lot of Illinois where I am from. Beautiful farmland. Nice cities and towns. Friendly people.
We were hosted by Morris Flewwelling, the Mayor of Red Deer City and Earl Kinsella, the Mayor of Red Deer County. It took me a while to wrap my arms around the idea of meeting two Mayors from Red Deer. But once I did, Julie and I had a grand time.

We met with a large group of Red Deer residents and then had a lunch with the Mayors and a group of government and civic leaders. I had a chance to have extended discussions of issues ranging from the impact of the drop in natural gas prices on the local economy, to Afghanistan, to the challenges faced by hog farmers as the price of feed has risen to a point where it is difficult to make money on the sale of pork.
We were invited back when it warms up – hopefully for a round of golf. I can’t think of a friendlier place to visit. DJ

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