Well, I asked for it. Yesterday and today we drove 1200 KM around Atlantic Canada. We started in Halifax, drove to Charlottetown on P.E.I., drove to Fredericton in New Brunswick, drove to Calais, Maine, and then drove back to Fredericton. I have definitely seen a lot of the Atlantic Provinces on the ground. While my staff may be ready to kill me, I had a blast and I got a good – if a little hectic – sense of the place.

Last night the U.S. Consul General and I had dinner with Premier Shawn Graham and his wife Roxanne. Roxanne lived in Japan for 9 years. She made us a GREAT Japanese dinner. I kept thinking of my friend John Roos who is the U.S. Ambassador to Japan. If he’s eating like this every night he will come home weighing 300 pounds. We had a good discussion about the Hydro-Quebec/New Brunswick Power deal. I have now heard about it from the perspectives of the Premiers of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Premier Graham and I also discussed the long running disagreement between the U.S. and Canada about the right of passage through Head Harbor for tankers at a proposed LNG facility in Passamaquoddy Bay, Maine. Lively night.

This morning we got up early to drive to Calais, Maine, for the dedication of a new state of the art border crossing facility which has been under discussion since the 1970s. The drive was magnificent. Rolling hills. Fast moving rivers. And millions of beautiful pine trees that were covered in frost. It looked like the front of a Christmas card.

Among the people who attended the dedication at Calais were Senator Collins and Congressman Michaud. As I said in my remarks, I do not believe we have to make the false choice between border security and convenience. If we are smart, if our two countries cooperate, and if we invest in the necessary infrastructure, we can have both.

Many of the border facilities predate World War II. For example, the two existing crossings between Calais, Maine and St. Stephen, New Brunswick were built early in the 20th century. Those old facilities are simply not designed to deal with the challenges we face today. Investments in infrastructure and technology on both sides of the boarder – like the new facility at Calais – are what we need in order to protect our countries without impeding the free flow of law abiding people and safe goods.

I also can’t let pass the opportunity to give praise to Emily Ginn. She is a Junior at Calais High School and she gave a stirring a cappella rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

While we were at the border, we had a chance to stop by the Ganong Brothers Chocolate Factory in St. Stephen. I loaded up with their signature ‘chicken bones’ and more than my share of chocolate creams. Thanksgiving is starting early for me.

After we returned to Fredericton we were treated to a private tour of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly Building. And we had a chance to meet the Speaker, Hon. Roy Boudreau. There was a special moment when we arrived. Flying on the flagpole in front of the building was the Stars and Stripes! I was moved by this kind gesture toward my country.

Then it was off to meet with the new Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Gaydon Nicholas. He was the first Aboriginal person to receive a law degree in Atlantic Canada, graduating in 1971. Prior to his appointment, he served for 18 years as a provincial judge. We had an interesting discussion of the challenges as well as the opportunities that confront First Nations and aboriginal people in Canada. We also talked about cooperation between communities in Canada and the U.S.

I am now off to Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Peter Van Loan to talk about cooperative efforts in securing North America.

Fortunately, I’m not going to Washington by car!!!
DJ