29 May 2007
Ambassador Wilkins Discusses U.S., Canadian Relationship
USINFO Webchat transcript, May 25
David H. Wilkins, ambassador to Canada, answered questions in a May 25 USINFO Webchat on global problems, new passport requirements, and current issues.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
USINFO Webchat Transcript
Ask the Ambassador: U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins
Guest: David Wilkins
Date: May 25, 2007
Time: 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT)
Moderator: Welcome to today's webchat with Ambassador David Wilkins. The webchat will begin at 14:00 EDT. You may begin sending in your questions any time before or during the webchat.
Moderator: Good afternoon! We'll be getting started at the top of the hour. Thank you for your questions.
Question [danido@r]: Ambassador, How can a Canadian, such as myself, who has studied Canada/US relations throughout our careers (mine as both a professor and diplomat, and State Dept. alumnus 1986) help you to ensure accurate and friendly mutual understanding of our converging cultures, demographics, security and democracy?
Dr. David Anido
Answer [Ambassador Wilkins]: Thank you for your question. Not to oversimplify, but my best answer is please continue to do what you have been doing throughout your career. The key to understanding each other is continuing dialog and continuing to build the relationship based upon a foundation of trust. I truly believe that is what makes our relationship unique. We are neighbors, we are allies, we are trading partners, but above all we are friends. When the chips are down, Canada and the U.S have always been there for each other.
I believe we ensure a mutual understanding and respect for each other one dialog, one meeting, one friendship at a time.
Q [MikeDeRosenroll-CCS]: Ambassador Wilkins, thank you for taking questions today. I work in tobacco control for the Canadian Cancer Society and my question is about the flow of US contraband tobacco into Canada.
The RCMP reports that cigarettes manufactured illegally on the St. Regis Native American reservation on the Canada-US border and smuggled into Canada are the number one source of contraband cigarettes in Canada. All but one of the eleven cigarette manufacturers in St. Regis do not have US federal licenses, and are therefore operating in clear violation of US domestic law. Their illegal products undermine public health in Canada and cost Canadian federal and provincial governments hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tobacco tax revenue.
This is a major border security issue for both Canada and the US. The fact that organized criminals are able to move back and forth across the border should be a serious concern to both national governments - news media report that criminals bring cigarettes to Canada and sometimes return to the U.S. with weapons, drugs and people. If the tobacco contraband were flowing the other way, the US would rightly demand that Canada shut down the illegal manufacturers. The US government has known about the illegal cigarette manufacturing facilities in St. Regis for years, so why has your government not shut them down?
A [Ambassador Wilkins: Thank you for your question concerning contraband tobacco. To begin with I want to let you know that contraband cigarette trafficking is a major issue for both the United States and Canada and adversely impacts both of our countries. Cooperative Canada/U.S. efforts to stem the flow of contraband cigarette trafficking have been ongoing for many years. Our countries enforcement agencies are committed to cross border integrated policing and intelligence sharing in attempts to reduce the flow of contraband cigarette trafficking across our shared border.
You may know that recent efforts in the United States to curb the illegal manufacture of cigarettes occurring in the area that you mention include a combined effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to bring illicit manufacturing facilities into compliance with U.S. Federal laws and regulations.
For example in 2006, after extensive negotiations Native Trading Associates became the first cigarette factory on the reservation to become licensed. In addition to obtaining a license, they paid a monetary settlement for their past tax liabilities. They now pay U.S. Federal excise taxes and appear to be complying with U.S. Federal laws and regulations. Since this agreement, three more St. Regis Mohawk manufacturers are expected to come into compliance by filing applications for Federal Tobacco Products Manufacturer licenses with TTB.
Additionally, the TTB has recently issued letters to all known suppliers of tobacco and manufacturing products advising them that they are in violation of Federal laws and regulations if they supply these products to unlicensed manufacturers. This initiative appears to have cut down on the supply of these materials to the reservation.
Lastly, ATF is actively involved in seizing tobacco and manufacturing products destined for unlicensed manufacturers on the reservation. Recent information, however, points toward tobacco and materials now being supplied to the reservation from Canadian locations.
Q [Silent_Heart]: Hi, I am Silent_Heart from Israel. I would like to ask some questions.
1. How can non-American benefit from the facilities that are given to American or Canadian?
2. What requirements are needed to live and work in Canada?
3. Is there a possibility to adopt a school in Israel and provide it with what it needs?
Thank you in advance, S_H
A [Ambassador Wilkins]: Dear Silent Heart, Thank you for your question. Certainly Canadians and Americans live in two of the most open and vibrant democracies in our world. Israel too, is a successful and dynamic democracy whose citizens enjoy a very high standard of living. I can't speak to work requirements that the Government of Canada, but I would refer you to our State Department website (travel.state.gov) which can provide information on visas and immigration to the United States. There are numerous charitable organizations in the U.S. which would be happy to assist schools in Israel. You might contact the Public Affairs section of our Missions in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. They could provide you with contact information for those organizations that are working in Israel.
Q [Kuba]: Dear Sir, as is very often noted, "special relationship" exists between US and UK, this based on historical ties and western philosophies of democracy and society. But why do we never hear about a "special relationship" between Canada and UK? As US Ambassador in Canada I am curious to hear your view on this. Perhaps I am wrong?
A [Ambassador Wilkins]: As one of the founding countries of Canada, I believe that the U.K. holds a special relationship with Canadians. Obviously, it would be best to defer to Canadian and British officials for further elaboration of that relationship, but from all the information that I am privy to, I believe that a strong relationship exists. The one special relationship that I can speak to is the one that we enjoy between Canada and the U.S. I believe that Canadians and Americans are blessed to be able to look across that vast border and see not only a neighbor but a friend and ally now and in the future.
Moderator: We're still accepting your questions.
Q [Kuba]: Thank you for your answer. If I may: Do you not think that cross-border pollution from South to North puts in danger the good tie between US-Canada?
A [Ambassador Wilkins]: Thanks for your question. In fact, pollution really does flow both ways and both our governments are committed to working together to address cross-border pollution.
For example, we signed the Air Quality Agreement in 1991 that has served to substantially reduce air pollutants in our two countries. We have additional agreements to reduce smog, and will soon begin negotiating an agreement to address particulate matter, one of the significant contributors to urban haze and smog. Bottom line, we do work closely and collaboratively on air quality and water quality, as well as on stewardship of plant and animal life and public health.
Moderator: "KPII", thank you, we have your question and it has been sent to the Ambassador.
Q [KPII]: What is your reaction to the recent school shooting in Toronto?
A [Ambassador Wilkins]: Any shooting and loss of life is a terrible tragedy regardless of where it occurs. It looks like there were a lot of factors in play in this situation and the only consolation is that the community has banded together to address this tragedy.
The U.S. and Canada have been working together in sharing information on guns used in crimes in both countries. This has resulted in numerous arrests and seizures of illegal firearms. While we don’t know where this firearm came from, there is continual cooperation between our various law enforcement agencies in ballistic training, tracings, and joint investigations.
Q [Lonzell]: Hello Ambassador, I understand that some major Hollywood studios are planning on delaying first run movies in Canada. Why, and what do you think of that?
A [Ambassador Wilkins]: Warner Brothers recently announced their intention to stop advance screenings of premier movies in Canada due to the concern they have on piracy. I can't speak for the studios, but I do know that that is a concern not only from studios in the United States, but is also a major concern of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry, the Canadian Recording Industry and other business entities here in Canada. I have been fairly public in urging the Canadian government to strengthen their protections of Intellectual Property. This is not about the protection of a Hollywood studio; it is about providing a safe environment for entrepreneurs and innovators in North America to put their product in the marketplace and have the assurance of reasonable protection. Customers also want to know that the products they're purchasing are authentic and safe.
Q [MikeDeRosenroll-CCS]: Ambassador Wilkins, thank you very much for your detailed answer to my earlier question about tobacco contraband. Would it be possible for you to elaborate on the recent information you referred to regarding raw materials coming to the St. Regis cigarette manufacturers through Canada? Also, what steps is the ATF taking to stop licensed manufacturers in St. Regis from obtaining a US federal license, allowing them to obtain raw materials legally, but then simply not report cigarettes shipped to Canada as contraband? Lastly, when will the US ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and participate in the illicit tobacco trade protocol currently being developed? This treaty would be a useful way for Canada and the US to tackle this problem together, since Canada is already a party to the FCTC. The US signed this treaty in 2004, so presumably there was some intent to eventually ratify it.
A [Ambassador Wilkins]: The U.S. Federal Government is attempting to bring cigarette manufacturers on the reservation into compliance with federal law, not discouraging them and having them continue to produce and export illegally.
I appreciate your very detailed questions and would suggest that you contact our ATF representative in the Embassy (613-688-5335).
Ambassador Wilkins: This is Ambassador Wilkins. Thanks for your questions and for the continuing dialog that we have enjoyed the last few months.
The next web chat will be with our Consul General who can answer questions on visas, WHTI and travel requirements. This will take place within the next month; watch our website (http://ottawa.usembassy.gov) for the date.
Moderator: We would like to thank Ambassador Wilkins for joining us today. The webchat is now closed. A transcript of today's webchat will be available on the USINFO Webchat Station homepage within one business day.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
