Atlantic Canada and the Canada – American Border of the Future
Halifax Citadel
Garrison Room, North Magazine
November 22, 2002
Halifax Borderlines is hosted by AIMS
with the support of the McCain Foundation
Canada’s place in North America, and particularly the next steps in the evolution of our relationship with the United States, is perhaps the most pressing public policy issue facing Canada today. Similarly, the burgeoning relationship between Atlantic Canada and the US is going to be a key part of any strategy to help this region escape its traditional underdevelopment.
AIMS was the Atlantic Canadian organizer of a national consultation on these issues. This project, called “Borderlines” is national, non-partisan, and put together by organizations and individuals across the country who share the belief that this issue may be the most important of our time. We, as Canadians, need an opportunity to educate ourselves about what is already happening, what options we may have and then help foster a debate in the country about what we want in our evolving relationship with the US.
AIMS is grateful to the following sponsors of this event
Primary broadcast partner
Associate broadcast partner
Print media partners
Event Program
8.00 a.m. Continental breakfast
8.30 a.m. Opening remarks: Brian Lee Crowley, President, AIMS and Alan Broadbent representing the Borderlines group. Outline of programme for the day, etc.
9.00 a.m. Panel One: The Border and its impact on the Atlantic Economy
Chair: Debbie Windsor, ACOA
Panelists:
David Cook, trade expert, UPEI – click here to read his notes (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Hon. John Crosbie, former federal trade minister – click here to read his notes (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Jonathan Daniels, Head, Economic Development, Bangor, Maine – click here to read his notes (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
10.30 a.m. Break
11.00 a.m. Panel Two: Energy, Transport and Security
Chair: Janice Gross Stein, Munk Centre, U of T
Panelists:
Scott Roberts, CN – click here to read his notes (Power Point Presentation)
Denis Stairs, security and defence expert, Dalhousie – click here to read his notes (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Gordon Weil, international electricity policy consultant/market analyst – click here to read his notes (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
12.30 p.m. Lunch
Guest speaker: Michael MacDonald – click here to read his notes (Power Point Presentation)
Atlantica: The regional dimension of deepening the Canada/US relationship
To see a visual representation of some of the factors at play in Atlantica
Employment
Immigration
Economic Distress
2.00 p.m. Panel Three: The Border and its impact on Atlantic Canadian Society
Chair: Jim Meek , journalist/writer
Panelists:
Jacke Thayer Scott , former President, UCCB – Read her notes
Reg Stuart, Historian, Canada-US relations, MSVU – Read his notes
Tim Woodcock, East-West Highway Assoc., Maine – Read his notes
3.30 p.m. Break
4.00 p.m. Breakout sessions:
What should be Canada’s objectives in the future of the Canada/US relationship?
How should those objectives be pursued?
Who should be responsible?
How should progress be measured?
Two groups, one moderated by Mary Rowe, the other by Michael MacDonald
5.00 p.m. Plenary report and synthesis
5.30 p.m. Summary and adjournment