Canada with Senators Kaine & Allen
Virginia FREE Trade Mission to Ottawa
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) and former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator George Allen led a bipartisan delegation to Ottawa ranging from Fortune 100 companies to critical minerals and technology in order to strengthen Canadian - American relations.
Senator Kaine:
I’d like to thank the Canadian businesses for the insights they shared with our group, as well as Ambassador (to the U.S.) Kirsten Hillman, Minister of National Defense DavidMcGuinty, and Senator Peter Harder for taking the time to have valuable conversations about the U.S.-Canada relationship.
I’d also like to thank Virginia FREE for leading this bipartisan delegation to Canada. Canada is Virginia’s largest export market, and our communities look forward to welcoming Canadian tourists every year. Throughout these meetings, as well as in my prior trip to Canada earlier this year, I heard again and again how important it is for the US and Canada to solve ongoing trade issues. The Virginia FREE delegation helped show our Canadian peers that they have bipartisan friends in Virginia.
Former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator George Allen:
It was enlightening to learn from our Canadian business and governmental friends about how personally and economically very beneficial trade and investment relations are for the people and enterprises throughout Virginia.
Canada remains by far Virginia’s No. 1 export market; with which Virginia has a large trade surplus. And business from Canada have invested tremendously with 450 facilities and 15,000 direct jobs all over our Commonwealth.
People should know that Canada buys more from the USA than China, Japan, France and the UK combined! The bottom line: the entire team on this Virginia FREE initiated Virginia-Canada Trade Mission clearly enhanced respectful, understanding relationships that will augur well for continued success for the people of Virginia and our best trading partner and ally Canada especially in the areas of critical minerals needed for our national defense and technological innovations.
Moreover, I’d much rather have our USA and Virginia industries source critical minerals from friendly, trustworthy Canada than from adversarial China or Russia.
Virginia FREE Board Chair Brian Moran, former Virginia Secretary of Public Safety & Homeland Security and Virginia House member:
Virginia FREE facilitated a critical discussion between Virginia businesses and Canadian officials. Our economic ties with our northern neighbor are historic and deep and Virginia FREE is working to further expand commercial opportunities for our Commonwealth.
Below - Steve Verhuel listens pensively.
Verhuel is “the most important Canadian you’ve never heard of” and was lead negotiator for the USMCA next to Jay Timmons President & CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers and Senator Kaine.
L to R: Jay Timmons, Esther Lee - former Virginia Secretary of Commerce & Trade, Kaine, Beth Burke CEO of Canadian American Business Council and Allen.
More members of the Trade Mission.
(Kaine holding Ottawa Senators hat)
Virginia FREE Board Member Susan Gaston:
The Trade Mission to Ottawa was a tremendous opportunity for Virginia FREE to stake a flag in its importance to the business community in the Commonwealth. As a Board member, there was clear and definite value to me in that role; as a government relations professional, the trip expanded my network, strengthened existing relationships, supported my clients and provided growth opportunities. We need to do this every six months and continue to be an arbiter of enhancing and growing the Virginia economy.
Hats were made where?
Jason Eagleburger COO of Hootl:
Governor Kaine and Governor Allen were wonderful. The roster of speakers for extremely informative and honest. Could not have been better.
This particular Trade Mission is a perfect template for further development and conversation.
L to R : Senator Ryan McDougle, Gaston, Paul Genest - Premier Vice President Power Corporation Du Canada, Kaine, Moran, Dennis Darby President & CEO Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Chris Saxman Virginia FREE, Timmons, Lee, and Allen
Pictures courtesy of the Canadian American Business Council. Thank you Beth Burke!
Thanks for the trip and the advocacy. Can we also look for cultural exchanges between us and Quebec? That's an untapped and undervalued partner because of the language barrier.