Border Challenges and Regional Solutions: 2010 Olympics and the Pacific Northwest Experience February 24, 2009

The Canada Institute, Pacific NorthWest Economic Region, Canadian American Business Council, and Western Washington University’s Border Policy Research Institute will hold this event to explore how Northern border states and Canadian provinces are developing regional solutions to meet federal border mandates in a manner that balances efficiency, economic, and security objectives. A major focus of this conference will be to assess whether the U.S. and Canadian governments have taken sufficient measures to handle peak cross-border traffic flows during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Other major topics of discussion will include:

-Regional solutions for economic competitiveness
-Measuring border performance
-Security Cooperation in the region, especially at the border


Confirmed panelists for the event include the Hon. Rick Larsen (D-WA), the Hon. Rick Larsen, the Hon. John Van Dongen, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General for British Colombia, Hugh Conroy of the International Mobility and Trade Corridor, Christopher Sands of the Hudson Institute, Edward Alden of the Council on Foreign Relations, Kelly Johnston of Campbell Soup Company, David Davidson of the Border Policy Research Institute, Tony Shallow of Transport Canada, and Kathryn Bryk Freidman of the University at Buffalo’s Regional Institute.

The conference will also feature a luncheon with a keynote address from the State of Washington’s Governor, Christine Gregoire.

Official Website: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1420&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&event_id=497911