Toronto, Ontario – July 8, 2009 – Christopher Sands, senior fellow of the Hudson Institute, and expert on U.S. – Canada relations, is presenting  policy recommendations from his report “Toward a New Frontier: Improving the U.S. – Canada Border” during an upcoming luncheon at the University Club of Toronto on July 13. The event is co-sponsored by the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, the Canadian International Council (CIC) and The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).

Drawing from a previous forum co-sponsored by the CIC and Brookings Institute on the current challenges and opportunities faced by U.S.-Canada border management, Dr. Sands has further developed analysis and prescriptions for improved relations. Recent concerns for the auto industry, “buy American” provisions in the U.S. stimulus bill and the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), call for greater precision in the definition of border problems and a decentralized process for addressing the varied and diverse challenges faced.

Following Dr. Sand’s presentation is a response panel and audience discussion moderated by Stephen Crawford, deputy director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings. Panelists include: Stephen Blank, co-chair of North American Transportation Competitiveness and CIGI senior fellow, as well as John Higginbotham, principal advisor on the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative.

Christopher Sands is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, where he specializes in U.S.-Canada relations, as well as North American economic integration. He is an adjunct professor in government at the American University School of Public Affairs and a senior fellow in the American University Center for North American Studies. He serves as a member of the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of the North American Competitiveness Council, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to consult with U.S. government officials in negotiations under the North American Security and Prosperity Partnership. He also lectures at the Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. Department of State and for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Admission is $25.00 for CIC members and CIGI guests and $35.00 for non-members. To register, please call 416-946-7209 or visit: http://www.canadianinternationalcouncil.org/calendar?event=%7B0e467a28-1...

EVENT:
Toward a New Frontier: Improving the U.S. – Canadian Border

DATE:
Monday, July 13, 2009

TIME:
12:15 – 12:50 pm, Dr. Sands’ presentation
12:50 –1:30 pm, response panel and audience discussion

LOCATION:
The University Club of Toronto
380 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario

MEDIA CONTACT:
Neve Peric
Media Relations
CIC
nperic@canadianinternationalcouncil.org
Phone: 519.885.2444, ext. 390