US/Canada Border ConferenceAdvancing U.S.-Canada dialogue on border issues

Last month on 12-13 September at the US/Canada Border Conference in Detroit, Washington challenges were highlighted in the sessions presented by law enforcement leaders. These agency heads and policy makers were from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, Air National Guard, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada’s Privy Council, Ontario Provincial Police, and an influential member of the U.S. Congress. The topic: President Obama and Prime Minister Harper’s United States-Canada joint declaration, Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.

The organizers say that the US/Canada Border Conference laid the foundation for a successful annual gathering focused on increased border security and the facilitation of legitimate trade and travel between the United States and Canada.

“The conference achieved its objective, bringing senior officials from the U.S. and Canada together with industry to address the most pressing issues, challenges and opportunities to advance the dialogue and the Beyond the Border mission,” says Paul Mackler, president & CEO of Eagle Eye Expositions, producers of the US/Canada Border Conference. “Our distinguished advisory board along with our team, developed an outstanding conference program, and we were honored to have such a prominent group of speakers from so many federal, state/provincial and local law enforcement agencies from both the U.S. and Canada”.

The Salute to Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony, sponsored by General Dynamics, honored U.S. and Canadian law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. A joint Color Guard presented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police offered a display of unity to open the ceremony.

The US/Canada Border Conference opened with a keynote address on Thursday, 12 September, by Mike Cabana, deputy commissioner, Federal Policing, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Thomas S. Winkowski, acting commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was the opening keynote speaker on Friday, 13 September. Other speakers included Representative Candice S. Miller (Michigan-10), Caroline Xavier, director general, Beyond the Border Programs Branch, Canada Border Services Agency, Alan Bersin, assistant secretary for international affairs/chief diplomatic officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and David Moloney, senior advisor, Border Action Plan Implementation, Privy Council Office, Canada.

Raytheon, General Dynamics, Axis Communications, and Nordiko were sponsors of the conference, and thirty-five companies displayed the latest products, technologies and solutions at the two-day exhibition.

Visit the event’s Web site to learn more about the sponsors and exhibiting companies as well as more about the US/Canada Border Conference.