Cablegate: Fy 2006 International Visitor Leadership Program

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

191157Z May 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 OTTAWA 001504

SIPDIS

STATE

SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/W - EWILKES-SCOTT;
WHA/PDA - JCARPENTER; WHA/CAN - TBREESE;
MONTREAL, TORONTO, CALGARY AND VANCOUVER FOR CGs and PAOs
QUEBEC and HALIFAX for CGs
CALGARY please pass to WINNIPEG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL CA IV
SUBJECT: FY 2006 International Visitor Leadership Program
for CANADA

1. SUMMARY: This cable transmits the Mission's FY 2006
International Visitor Leadership Program slate. END
SUMMARY.

2. The Mission Canada International Visitor Committee,
composed of principal officers of Canada's seven constituent
posts and Embassy Minister-Counselors for political,
economic and public affairs, chaired by the Charg, met via
digital videoconference on May 2nd to select Canada's slate
of nominees for the FY 2006 program. The twenty-eight

principal candidates and twelve alternates represent
emerging leaders from all of Canada's consular districts,
from seven provinces and territories, from government,
media, law enforcement, think tanks, higher education
institutions, corporations, and non-profit organizations.
Eleven of the principal twenty-eight candidates are visible
minorities, twelve are women. Their proposed programs will
support six priority Mission Performance Plan priorities.

3. Nominating bio-data will be submitted via separate
cables in EVDB format. The post looks forward to
collaborating with ECA/PE/V colleagues to offer them the
kind of up-close, stimulating and balanced experience in the
United States that has given past grantees a multi-
dimensional, richer view of the United States.

4. The nominees below have full country team approval.

5. Canada's FY 2006 International Visitor nominees follow,
grouped by relevant Mission Performance Plan Themes.
Numbers at left indicate ranking. Those ranked numbers 1 to
28 are principal candidates, and 29 to 40 are alternates.

--------------------------------------------- ---
MPP THEME: PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TO TERRORISM
--------------------------------------------- ---

1 - Qi WANG, Analyst, Borders Task Force, Privy Council,
Government of Canada. Requested program: EU RP U.S. FOREIGN
POLICY CHALLENGES, OCT 10-28, 2005

5 - Steve RAI, Sergeant, Vancouver Policy Department.
Requested program: MRP INTERNATIONAL CRIME ISSUES, JUNE 29-
JULY 20, 2006

3 - Wade KELLER, Senior Producer, ATV news, Halifax, Nova
Scotia. ITT on Public Policy Issues and the U.S. Broadcast
Media, with Kacey Wilson. (tbc)

22 - Kacey WILSON, Host/Producer "Today So Far", CJOB 68
Radio, Winnipeg. ITT on Public Policy Issues and the U.S.
Broadcast Media, with Wade Keller. (tbc)

26 - Joe COUTO, Director, Government Relations, Ontario
Association of Chiefs of Police. Requested program: EU RP
Combatting Trafficking In Persons, June 4-23, 2006 Or EU RP
Combatting International Crime, September 25-October 13,
2006

27 - Arnold CHAN, Executive Assistant to the Premier of
Ontario. ITT on Current Economic, Political, Security, and
Social Issues

Alternate:

30 - Baraladei IGALI, President, Igali Foundation Inc.,
Vancouver. MRP International Security Issues, AUG 2-24,
2006

---------------------------------------------
MPP THEME: INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK PROTECTION
---------------------------------------------

11 - David MORLEY, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the
Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities,
Ottawa. ITT on Infrastructure Development and Protection,
with Isabelle Hudon.

20 - Stephen LASKOWSKI, Assistant Vice President, Ontario
Trucking Association. ITT on Ground Transportation Safety
and Planning

25 - Robert KROEKER, Director of Commercial Vehicle Safety,
British Columbia Ministry of Solicitor General. ITT on
Ground Transportation Safety and Planning

--------------------------------------------- -
MPP THEME: CLOSE TIES WITH ALLIES AND FRIENDS
--------------------------------------------- -
2 - Yolande JAMES, Member of Quebec Legislative Assembly -
ITT on Current Economic, Political, Security, and Social
Issues

8 - Navdeep BAINS, Member of Canadian Parliament, Liberal
Party. ITT on U.S. Policymaking Process, with MP Nathan
Cullen.

10 - Nathan CULLEN, Member of Canadian Parliament, New
Democrat Party. ITT on U.S. Policymaking Process, with
Navdeep BAINS.

12 - Paul BLACK, Research Officer, Office of the Leader of
the Opposition, Government of Nova Scotia. ITT on Current
Economic, Political, Security, and Social Issues

15 - Josee VERNER, Chair, Quebec Caucus of the Conservative
Party of Canada. ITT on Current Economic, Political,
Security, and Social Issues

24 - Tara BINGHAM, Special Assistant to Member of Canadian
Parliament Belinda Stronach. ITT on Current Economic,
Political, Security, and Social Issues

Alternate:

33 - David SALVATORE, Legislative Assistant to Member of
Canadian Parliament Solberg. ITT on Current Economic,
Political, Security, and Social Issues

-------------------------------------
MPP THEME: SECURE AND STABLE MARKETS
-------------------------------------

9 - Derek BROWN, Executive Director, Resource Development
and Geoscience Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Energy
and Mines, Oil and Gas. Individual Program on U.S. Energy
Policy

13 - Ryan CRAIG, Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor of
Winnipeg. ITT on Current Economic, Political, Security, and
Social Issues

14 - Adrienne BATRA, Manitoba Director, Canadian Taxpayers
Federation. EU RP on Trade and Economic Development
(pending acceptance).

17 - Isabelle HUDON, President and CEO, Board of Trade of
Metropolitan Montreal. ITT on Infrastructure Development
and Protection, with David Morley.

18 - Marie-France CHARBONNEAU, Political Attache, Bloc
Quebecois Cabinet, Ottawa. ITT on Current Economic,
Political, Security, and Social Issues

19 - Peter GREGG, Vice President, Corporate Communications,
Hydro One, Toronto. Individual program on U.S. Energy
Policy and Security.

23 - Barry McNamar, Assistant Director for Development, The
Fraser Institute, Calgary. EU RP Trade And Economic Issues
- MAY 8-26, 2006

Alternate:

31 - Alexander LOFTHOUSE, Policy Advisor, Trade and
International Policy, Ontario Ministry of Economic
Development and Trade. Individual Program on U.S. Trade and
Security Policies

------------------------------------
MPP THEME: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
------------------------------------

4 - David Neufeld, MANAGER, Water Policy, Ontario Ministry
of the Environment. Individual Program on U.S.
Environmental Protection and Water Management

28 - Letia COUSINS, Director, Aboriginal and Circumpolar
Affairs, Government of Nunavut. Individual program, theme
to be confirmed.

Alternate:

34 - Allan SCHOLZ, President, A.N. Scholz and Associates,
Calgary. Individual program on U.S. Water Policy and
Management.

----------------------------------------
MPP THEME: INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION
----------------------------------------

6 - Ahmed MAHIDJIBA, President, Algerian Cultural Center,
Montreal. Individual program on Role of Religious
Communities in U.S. Society

7 - Peesee PITSIULAK, Campus Director, Nunatta Campus,
Nunavut Arctic College. Individual program on Educational
Policy for Minority Populations

16 - Patrick GILLES, Cultural Community Organizer, Quebec
Liberal Party - ITT on Multiculturalism in the U.S.

21 - Tracey THOMAS, Coordinator of Student Recruitment, Nova
Scotia Community College - ITT on Multiculturalism in the
U.S.

Alternates:

29 - Robert SMALL, Non-profit Manager and Program
Development, Portland Hotel Society, Community Services
Society, Vancouver. MRP on Substance Abuse, Education,
Treatment And Prevention, Nov 10-Dec 1, 2005

32 - Carmen MOORE, Chief of Protocol, Government of the
Northwest Territories. Individual program, theme tbd.

35 - Zarina Mulla, Social Planner, City of Vancouver Drug
Policy Program. Individual or group program on Drug Abuse
Prevention, Education and Treatment.

End of nominee list.

-----------------------------------
6. Proposed Canada group programs
-----------------------------------

A) Current Economic, Political, Security and Social Issues

This proposed project, for provincial and municipal
politicians and political aides, representing several
parties, would develop grantees' understanding of the
workings of the U.S. political and economic policy-making
system; federal/state/local relations;
legislative/executive/judicial checks and balances; U.S.
policies and public views on security and defense;
international trade policies, especially those that affect
Canada; health care and social security debates; energy
policy; and environmental protection and conservation. The
project would be structured so that grantees participate in
10 days of common programming, then split into smaller
groups to pursue specific interests in the remaining 5
program days.

Proposed group members:

--Yolanda James, Member of Quebec Legislative Assembly
(Liberal);
--Paul Black Research Officer, Office of the Leader of the
Opposition, Government of Nova Scotia (New Democratic
Party);
--Josee Verner, Chair, Quebec Caucus of the Conservative
Party of Canada;
--Marie-France Charbonneau, Political Attach, Bloc
Quebecois Cabinet, Ottawa;
--Tara Bingham, Special Assistant to Member of Canadian
Parliament Belinda Stronach (recent Liberal);
--Arnold Chan, Executive Assistant to the Premier of Ontario
(Liberal);
--Craig Ryan, Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor of
Winnipeg

B) Ground Transportation Safety and Planning

This project would better acquaint two players involved in
supporting Canada-U.S. trade via truck to overall U.S.
security policies, U.S. border security concerns, regulation
and implementation, including both northern and southern
borders, ground transportation safety measures,

infrastructure planning and funding, and broader border
security measures, such as container inspection,
bioterrorism countermeasures, and marine security
cooperation.

Nominees:

--Stephen Laskowski, Assistant Vice President, Ontario
Trucking Association;
--Robert Kroeker, Director of Commercial Vehicle Safety,
British Columbia Ministry of Solicitor General

C) Infrastructure Development and Protection

This project would focus on the political, financial,
environmental, and social aspects of infrastructure
development in urban areas and at key U.S. border crossings.
One nominee is a public sector manager, the other a business
association leader. The program would emphasize the
positive interaction between the public and private sectors
in the United States to identify priorities, stimulate
investment, and implement infrastructure projects that
support economic growth, safety and well-being of citizens.

Nominees:

--David Morley, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the
Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities,
Ottawa;
--Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, Board of Trade of
Metropolitan Montreal

D) U.S. Policymaking Process (security, economic,
environmental issues)

This project would acquaint two first-term Members of the
Canadian Parliament to the policy-making system in the
United States, through discussions with federal, state and
local government leaders and officials, experts, lobbyists,
media, labor organizations, and interest groups on security,
economic and environmental issues that matter in the U.S.-
Canada relationship. Specific topics will be determined in
consultation with invitees, once approved.

Nominees:

--Navdeep BAINS, Member of Canadian Parliament (Liberal)
--Nathan CULLEN, Member of Canadian Parliament (New
Democratic Party)

E) Multiculturalism in the U.S.

This project would acquaint two leaders of multicultural
communities with U.S. ideals and practice in celebrating the
diversity of our society. Themes might include immigration
policy and integration of new immigrants; business
development among minorities and government policies in
support of women- and minority-owned businesses; education
and training opportunities for minorities; integration and
language issues in schools; promotion of diversity in the
workplace; the Haitian-American community and its role in
aiding Haiti; African-American community leadership and
culture; US promotion of religious tolerance and freedom at
home and abroad; cultural institutions celebrating
indigenous people, immigrants, and minorities.

Nominees:

--Patrick Gilles, Cultural Community Organizer, Quebec
Liberal Party;
--Tracey Thomas, Coordinator of Student Recruitment, Nova
Scotia Community College

F) U.S. Public Policy Issues and the Broadcast Media

This program would acquaint two emerging broadcast
journalists with major public policy debates in the U.S. and
how they are covered in the broadcast media. Through
meetings with federal executive, legislative and judicial
branches, state and local governments, NGOs, industry and
professional associations, and naturally, their counterparts
in U.S. media organizations, they would gain insights into
how the differing views of Americans merge in the policy-
making process. Specific issues on which they might focus
include U.S. Homeland Security (e.g. balancing security
measures with privacy and civil liberties concerns); U.S.
Trade Policy (e.g. commitment to free trade, positions on
agricultural trade distortions in world markets, U.S. trade
remedies as applied to Canada-U.S. softwood, wheat and hog
trade); Energy and Environmental Policy (respective
contributions of energy companies, auto companies,
alternative energy researchers and producers, nuclear power
proponents, conservationists, public utilities, and NGOs),
Prescription Drug Trade, or the Social Security Debate.

Nominees:

--Wade Keller, Senior Producer, ATV news, Halifax, Nova
Scotia
--Kacey Wilson, Host/Producer "Today So Far", CJOB 68 Radio,
Winnipeg

7. EVDB nominating cables will follow. Post looks forward
to Washington approval of nominees and to working with
ECA/PE/V/R/W and group project officers in designing and
implementing the FY 2006 Canada International Visitor
Leadership Program, the beneficiary in past years of the
expert planning and dedication of Washington program
officers and program agency colleagues.

DICKSON, CHARGE

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