Good Fences, Good Neighbors

Mount Mansfield from Jericho Vermont crossed over on Interstate 91 about five miles away. When you play travel hockey growing up tournaments are killing us so it really doesn't feel much different just another away game just really some of the in-state travels Brattleboro occasionally Manchester. Those are as much or more of a hike and you know we get scheduled hours in the middle of the week sometimes and try to find a place to eat after the game. There's nothing there. You know the restaurants close this one is always open it's a little bit different. They have protein with the fries. The girls all like that. Yeah it's kind of cool you come in there's the NHL and French on the TV kind of reality check that you are in a different time. It doesn't feel like it but it's fun that's universal hockey cultures. Derby Line shares more than a rink with their Canadian counterparts. All water and sewer services come from Stansted and neighboring Rock Island. The border a pier is is kind of an imaginary line to people who live here. And everybody gets along very well and to have joint

water sewer system like this is very neat because you're talking about two countries as well as a state and a province as well. Well fire departments from both sides of the border routinely help each other out. Most of the time I go yes I go it's pretty good. We get lost with some of the interactions in Canada. They know this area pretty well. They're down here a lot. So it works out well. One time we were in a fire and I ended up running one of their trucks and. Language on assignment from the compound. It's all in French and French for a while. When we managed to get by. And. Do the lines biggest employer is Tivoli which manufactures perishable cutting tools like TAPS and reamers. The company literally straddles the border coach Gado has worked here for more than 40 years. Well we have a computer system which was shared by both a Canadian and American divisions and it was located in the US here so.

It was nice for us to be at the Sheraton is like there it is we actually were able to walk back and forth across the border as long as we didn't carry any goods we were allowed to do that. I'm not sure what it would be today though. The International hallway was walled up in the early 1980s when goods stopped being made on the Canadian side. But the conference room which shares two countries is still being used. It's one of the unique features that we have where we can actually be sitting in Cannes and talking to a person in the US. Lines marking the border can be seen here and at the Haskell free library and Opera House which is becoming a tourist attraction. They come in they say is this really the Haskell library that's in two countries at once. And is that the line because they see the lineup floor and they say is that the line. And often they like to have their picture taken standing in two countries at once. And sometimes the children like to hold the flags indicative of both countries. Forty percent of the mailboxes at Derby lines post office are rented by Canadians. Tighter border security has meant occasional traffic problems and we understand

they are doing their job but we just need who will help in trying to make it a little more pleasant for our citizens. And I think that will come. Businesses in Stansted have also seen changes the restrictions on the borders now with ID cards and and searches car searches. It's really sort of put a damper on our business. But people are still coming. I can't go myself because my passport says I'm born in Syria and over 100 and 60 Syrians have been deported even though they were living in Canada they've been deported to Syria and have been tortured. So I can't really cross. I mean because. Because they would There is a risk that they might send me. Canada is Vermont's number one trading partner. The Green Mountain State sends more north across the border than anywhere else and Vermont is second most active trading partner.

The relationship between for Mont and Canada is a mutually beneficial relationship. We're talking about a five point six billion dollar bilateral trade relationship so we're sending a lot of product to them they're sending a lot of product to us. And I think people are surprised to hear that a province like the back for instance Vermont was cutback second largest export destination in the world in 2005 just behind New York State. Doing business with Canada. It's relatively easy for companies in Vermont especially you know English is spoken almost everywhere in the country. We have some competitive advantage for companies that have products that qualify for an after treatment and it's so very close. It just makes sense to do business there. And Vermont is important to Canada of course and I have very very good neighbor going very close friend to the back and the lots of companies in Vermont because it's the first thanks and this opens door to the U.S. as a home so that that that's respected from us is easier for

it than any other state for the company to establish to employ American people. Vermonters and Canadians have been trading back and forth for centuries. Today romance wood products industry continues to export a lot of material to Canada. One of our best customers is Canada particularly Quebec on an annual basis. The wood products industry exports about 70 million dollars where the product. And the paper and paper products. Which is part of our industry exports another 40 million dollars making us the second largest. Export industry. About 40 percent of what a Johnson sends to Canada our logs. Some of it being in the very best the near logs time of it being the

very lowest quality What's go into them making the flooring. What we would call a number two or even a number three log the middle grades of logs almost all stay in Vermont. That's about 40 percent of what we export to Canada. Another 40 percent is in the form of lumber. Number going north is high grade lumber for furniture and cabinetry. Well the wood products and paper industry remain strong exporters. These days. It's microchips that lead the way by a lot. IBM sends more than 1 billion dollars worth of chips made in Essex Vermont to be worked on at a sister facility in Quebec. There's a lot of a lot of materials a lot of key products key components that go back and forth across the border. The chips that go into the advanced game systems the chips that go into some very sophisticated computers companies who depend on our chips for their cellphones

networking devices equipment that runs the Internet they all use chips that are manufactured in Vermont and processed and manufactured of source and brought her back. And so that's a lot of value to us a lot of value to our customers going back and forth. Getting goods back and forth across the border has become more complicated. And since 9/11 Customs now requires prior notice meaning shippers must prepare and submit all of the paperwork ahead of time. Well there's a lot more paperwork and we have to produce information much quicker in the process cycle than we ever did before. In the old days we would have. Wots of missing information on the paperwork and we would have time to call and get it. And that's not the case anymore we have to have it all up front or the truck doesn't cross. We also found that. Federal agencies wanted more information about. Who's shipping. Who's manufacturing who's

importing. And so that they can properly target. For further review of those shipments that they want to look at. Bob decamp handles regulatory affairs for derringers customs brokers who also deal with warehousing and transportation with facilities at the border in Highgate although there is more paperwork. De camp says goods are moving faster. We found ways to be more efficient. The review inadmissibility on the targeting performed by government is a really become much better. So it's astounding what we can all accomplish with one thought. Certainly our focus is towards terrorism. We've accelerated things now some change but it's not one of these bright white who all of a sudden the whole trade industry changed the state of Vermont through its international trade office hosts workshops to help business owners. If you showed up without identification at a port nowadays and we thought you were not a US citizen we could refuse you entry. But there is no requirement

really to have any identification you just need to convince the officer that you belong to this country and we're supposed to let you in. Quite though the practical question is how do you do that. More more companies are doing business with Canada and there have been changes such as the new passport requirement so I think on a fairly regular basis we'll need to hold programs like this just to keep companies well informed about this morning's program was about enough to qualification you know how do I find out if my products qualify for now after treatment. The state also tries to help businesses attract Canadian customers by co-sponsoring of bands like the American environmental technologies trade show. Held in Montreal the show attracts ten thousand visitors. The first aim is to get businesses out of the into the marketplace and help them grow. The second way to put the presents out there for the state of Vermont. Improvement perspective recognizing that somebody has a a well-known environmental brand to back is in for months biggest trading partner so we see a lot of potentials of

close by cross-border trading. Second of all because Canadians have some of the same values we have in terms of preserving their environment. Two dozen Vermont firms were represented including a Burlington company that makes remote monitoring equipment for large renewable energy installations. We're just trying to explore the Canadian market they're just starting to implement larger and larger scale Renault wanted GI systems. So this is a great opportunity for us to really understand what Canada is doing and if they have a need for our equipment that's the export picture after microchips what Vermont mostly imports from Canada is energy. One third of the state's electricity comes from Hydro Quebec. Those contracts are due to expire within the next 10 years. Officials expect them to be renewed. You know from the States perspective we're here just to open the door create the the environment where our utilities can negotiate with Hydro Quebec and hopefully find

a satisfactory result. I think all the possibilities are there. They are building a new generation that they're very positive about. They've put it explicitly in their energy plan that they want to export power out of the province. So you know I'd like to think they were as well positioned as we can be. Canada also sends a significant amount of refined gasoline to Vermont and New England and all of Vermont's natural gas that comes in via the TransCanada pipeline to a station on the border near Highgate Springs Vermont gas is owned by gas Metropolitan which is based in pull back the same company that purchased Green Mountain Power in the spring of 2007. And one of the really beneficial or important parts of measure requiring power is that they bring a much stronger balance sheet or capital resource to the table. As we look to the future and plan our energy supply and look at different options that we may want to buy or invest

in having that capital strength is very important. We feel very good about Gaz Metro from the standpoint of their management and their culture and their attitude towards regulation and customers because we've dealt with them for so long as owners of Vermont gas. The energy connection between Vermont and co. back was highlighted at a ministerial forum in Quebec City. You know of course you know when I was. In that meat. Oh yes we don't want to see this summit on energy and the environment involved all six New England governors and the five premiers from the eastern Canadian provinces. And they have a key that we need for the better balance between energy security economic development and protection of the environment that they don't. And therefore it's time for action because America is there more than ever. That's the issue of climate change and proper energy choices in Slane are important

just as cross-border trade has drawn on the dynamic nature of North American regions so too will the solutions to our energy and environmental problems hinge on the effectiveness of regional networks. The forum was hosted by a Quebec premier John Sheldrake and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas the Premier and I took office at about the same time and a little less than four years ago and we very quickly developed a friendship that's so important to good neighbors. We are indeed good neighbors. We share a rich history and culture and economies that are inexorably interrelated in many areas of mutual interest. We've rarely allowed state provincial or international borders to inhibit the free flow of our residents our tourists or our economies. Certainly neither the air that we breathe nor the greenhouse gases emitted recognize borders. It's been clear to generations of leaders of our eleven states and provinces that we need to act

together to make a difference. The two day event focused on reducing energy consumption using more renewable resources and making transportation more efficient. Officials from Vermont and Quebec also signed an agreement to help each other clean up any hazardous material spills. Unlike men from a cog. Thank you very much. Agreements to jointly protect them from a cog Missisquoi Bay and the rest of Lake Champlain are already in place. The other main component of the trade picture between Vermont and Quebec are the soft goods tourists. One third of the tourists who visit Vermont come from Canada in 2005. Six hundred sixty four thousand Canadians came here and spent the night. That's about the same number of visitors as people actually living in the Green Mountain State. And another 1.3 million Canadians came just for the

day contributing about eighty nine million dollars to Vermont's economy. Converse people living here like to head north again in 2005. One hundred seventy nine thousand Vermonters went to Quebec and other provinces adding fifty six million dollars to Canada's coffers. So again it just shows the mutual benefit of our relationship. A lot of Canadians also come here to fly out of Burlington International Airport and to fill up at our gas stations were fewer taxes are charged. A couple times a week. I come over to buy some Canadian gas in Vermont. Is it cheaper over here. And many Canadians come to play at Vermont ski areas like JP. We're Canadian money is accepted at par for lift tickets because it's near from my home and because there's a lot of snow here and there's good good condition. So I like to go here.

To snowboard here you know we're on spring break so I came up here for days off school a bit. We have a cottage in the Eastern Townships and we will. Take advantage of this beautiful oil so we we come down once a year to ski here. Well Jay Peak has been in existence for over 55 years right now and for all of that life the Canadian guests have been. Equal to 50 percent of our business so it's not just a recent phenomenon it's something that's part of our heritage and it's part of our our every year existence as welcoming Canadian gas from the province of Quebec as well as the province of Ontario. With all this cross-border traffic. Vermont and Canadian officials have been worried about new regulations which may require passports objection that's all Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy helped win an extension postponing that until at least January 2008 and most likely June of 2009. So we've bought a little time now. Now what we're doing is trying to take that time and find a

solution that's going to work. Whether that's going to be a pass card an access card a pass. Who are ham strivers license or possibly repealing the whole law altogether. And the question we've got was race is how is it really going to make us more secure to get a passport. What do you need. A driver's license and a birth certificate. So if you're going in with fraudulent documents to begin with you're going to end up with a fraudulent passport that's still going to enable you to cross the border and that was one of the things we raise were all for security but we don't see how this is going to make things more secure. We have to work very closely with with the federal authorities to make sure that the policies that are implemented are well thought out are tactically syncs and will not negatively cripple the economy of the border region. Passport is an expensive document for a lot of Canadians to get a lot of Canadians have passports but an awful lot don't. So it's going to be a challenge. You know if you're in Washington you know it's doesn't seems like. Very difficult to do.

But when you have a teenager and you have to come back. You know to see your friend who knew from them from a map and different these you know in the past but you don't carry your breastbone because it's so much an important document. You don't carry that in your back so I have to find a proper way to cross the border in the future by car or by bus from the kids. That's a challenge. Moment. What can we do with his if we want to be more partner Shama businesses and we need to find a solution because a lot of people are on the border by car. So so that's not the answer. I know a lot of work has been done but we have not found a solution. And this is still a challenge. Although passports are not yet mandatory for citizens crossing back into the United States or Vermont by car they are now required when flying back into this country. Following the attacks of September 11th. The free flow of

intelligence information between Canada and the United States basically stopped according to Lieutenant Governor Brian Duby. As chair of Vermont's Homeland Security Council dooby has been working to improve relations with the state's northern neighbor. The fact is it's really all about relationships. It's about personal trust. And you're not going to share information that might be sensitive with a foreign country or foreign official unless you have a relationship. We say in the disaster response business you don't want to be exchanging business cards in a disaster. You want to be able to when you pick up the phone you have these relationships. Because of these new relationships the mutual aid agreement between border towns has been expanded to include all of Vermont and come back. If there's an ice storm in Quebec and Premier Shari calls Governor Douglas and says I need some help. Governor Douglas can send line crews across the border in compensation issues are already established and liability issues are

already rist out west and we can help them relationship building. Also help move the federal government toward sharing intelligence and trade information between Quebec and New England. It doesn't get a lot of publicity but I can tell you that it's made a huge difference in making sure that people that have these responsibilities now have a formal agreement that really changed the policy and motivated the federal government to do the right thing and also provide a day or an official means for us to information share with our friends in Canada. We talk a lot about myths about Canada within the US. The University of Vermont recognized the importance of cross-border relationships by establishing a Canadian Studies Program. In 1964 it was the first comprehensive program of its kind in the United States and continues today

to enlighten future generations. We share a lot of history in common but we've also sort of moved in very very different directions. And I think that students here in the U.S. can learn not only a lot about Canada by by taking courses like that but they also learn a lot more about their own country. The connection between Vermont and Canada started centuries ago. Has evolved into a strong partnership where both sides depend on and benefit each other. And while some on both sides of the border are concerned about future issues like the pending passport requirements others are optimistic. I'm not worried about the long the long term because usually borders tighten up before they fall. And and I think there's only one direction here is that the border falls because North America is going to become one. We have to compete with Europe. From an economic standpoint from a security standpoint from a. Identity standpoint to who we are as from Honor's the relationship with Quebec is critically critically important to our

future in the state of Vermont. Well thanks to producer Katherine Hughes for us for that documentary which even for those of us who lived in this area for decades still present some issues that frankly were were new to me. What what jumps out at you and will go around and what jumps out at you and mung the myriad of issues that we've heard here in the last half an hour. Well how much we have a link together. For example you can look at the energy issue. Now we know that you know that is we looking back you know we can you can count on the safe and stable you know just supply. And we know that in Vermont efficiency in energy efficiency is one of your strong points. So when you have supply on one side an energy efficiency measure in Vermont. So it's it's incredible what you

can do to get to you. It's the future of you need that and it's open and it's there. So that's that's important we really if you want to do business if you want to live in Vermont and be happy and as in Quebec. So the energy relationship to really reinforce the strengths between the Vermont and call back and the mutual benefits there are between that. What stood out for me was that the culture overlapped with the stories about the kids playing hockey bouncing and crossing back the border and what how how rude that is in the fabric of who they are and I think that lends itself a lot to the work that we need to do well and whether it's in danger now post-9 11 and well we'll dig into that a little bit as well. Mike what would what you see there. Well again I think there's a rich history that is spoken to and around this subject the lieutenant governor the governor both spoke about the relationships and why those are critical. The reality is is that there's a group of people who happen to live very

close to each other on a border and we have things going back and forth across our borders. The video about about Tivoli I've walked in and out of the United States for more than five or six times just going up and down the stairs. And so those kinds of things are really there we have companies that have operations on both sides. It's really it's what make the thing that makes it work. It's like a match your relationship you know I guess between the Macon and Vermont. You're watching good fences good neighbors of Vermont Public television special coming to you live from our studios here in Cole Chester and via remote from Newport Vermont tonight it's a program presented in the public interest. And we very much encourage your phone calls and interactivity we have a Web chat on line if that's how you care to participate and we invite your telephone calls right now and until 9:00 o'clock tonight. The toll free number is 1 8 6 6 4 2 4 0 8 6 6 4 2 4 live. We want to

bring our audience in Newport Vermont into our conversation tonight and my colleague and the documentary producer Katherine Hughes is is at the Goodrich Memorial Library in Newport. Catherine Tate Good evening Stuart Yes I am here at the beautiful Goodrich Memorial Library in Newport. But before I talk about that there are some new developments actually that I'd like to talk to you about. The United States and governments now want to close some of the side streets that connect the communities of Stansted and Derby Line. And we just produce some tape about that. But I'd like to show you now. OK I would share an international boundary. The Department of Homeland Security wants to close unguarded side streets in all states that share a border with Canada. Here in Derby Line that plan would affect three streets. Phelps Street which is near Interstate 91. Lease street. And Church Street which is also home to the Haskell free library and opera house. Canadian

patrons have not had to report to customs in the past. But that would change under the new plan if they close Church Street. And the international side streets have been plowed under an agreement between the two communities. That too would change. Tourists have sometimes inadvertently crossed the border using the side streets although unguarded they are monitored by border agents who say illegal crossings have increased. A public meeting about this issue will take place at the Haskell library June 19th starting at 7 o'clock. Answer. Hi there well right now I'm standing with Keith Beadle who's a trustee at Derby Line who's also actually a trustee of the Haskell free library and Opera House and also with reporter Robin Smith from the Caledonia record Caledonian record excuse me. So first I'd like to start with Keith. What is been the reaction of the town so far and the town fathers to this new proposal by the governments.

Well next Tuesday night we're having a public meeting with Border Patrol. I've heard two kinds of comments from from people in Derby Line. Some people don't care whether they're closed or not. And some people don't want them closed at all. I haven't really talked to anyone that that wants to have the streets closed. Does the town have. Has the town have a chance yet to formulate a position on this. What we're going to do is we're going to go to the meeting we're going to listen to what the Border Patrol has to say and we're going to listen to what our citizens have. Saying that's what's going to help us make up our minds what we think is going to be best for for Derby Line and for Stansted as well. Before we talk to Robin I just like to know I mean for example what would this mean to the the library an opera house that straddles the border and Canadian patrons I guess have been able to just go right in and and get books out I guess. I gather that was part of the original plan of the library being on the border. The library was a gift from the Haskell family to the two ministers polities of Derby Line in Stansted Rock Island. It was built intentionally on the border so that

both communities would be able to share access to books and to cultural events. It's been a longstanding agreement that Canadian patrons who are only going to the library do not have to report for inspection they can walk up the sidewalk walk in the front door which is on the American side do what business they have to do and then turn around and walk back to Canada or drive back to Canada. The new development if a gate or a fence or barrier of some kind is put up might cause these people to have to drive around through one of the ports of entry. They have to present a passport that's going to be another complication. I don't think that that is the spirit in which the library and the opera house were built. So this is going to be a complicated issue for everybody it sounds like it could be. We were going to we're going to wait and see and listen to what people have to say. I'd like to talk to Robin here for a second. Robin you told me you've grown up in this area all your life. Yes. And I actually lived on one of these side streets my parents still live there.

So it's a family issue and there's a lot of discussion at every dinner time. I mean I gather from the I understand the position the Border Patrol because they're responsible for making things safe. But I mean you both of actually your neighbors I found out what would that do for the I guess it depends on what the the border's happens to the side streets but what. I mean do you have some ideas on what would. That would be like for the character of the town. Well the the ability to cross the border has changed over the years when I was a kid and in the sea. Cities that have exposition in Montreal and they put the little line across the border to ring in the customs house when somebody crossed so they would know it was an issue of security. As a kid we used to go and jump up and down on the line to make it rain in the Border Patrol come along. They don't do that but it's going to come to the point where there isn't any possibility for you know me.

You know I forgot my passport my I left my purse at the store and I don't have idea on me. What are they going to do. And it's my great aunt said. Do I need a passport to go to Stansted to a funeral. And I'm afraid that it's going to shut down Border relations that we have enjoyed for many. Do you know yet Keith what the border's planning to do. Are they planning to put up barriers or do you have any idea. I don't know for sure they've told us. That they would probably put up some kind of barrier but that would be attractive. Maybe park some flowers a garden. But again they haven't given us any. Any final plans. And you've been covering this as well as living there what's that been like so far. Well so far everybody wants to talk about it because it is a big change in a small community and people who don't live on the border don't realize how powerful this is that you can have a neighbor that you look out your window and

they live in another country and you can be related to people on the other side if you go to dinner without thinking much about it. With relatives on the other side of the line. That's why we call it that. And it's a way of life for the locals and so that becomes a big issue in the meeting on Tuesday it should be very interesting. THANK YOU can you just remind us Keith when and where that meaning is going to be. The meeting is going to be at 7:00 p.m. next Tuesday June 19th in the Haskell Opera House. And I suspect the Border Patrol is going to be sitting in Canada. Thank you very much. I should let people know by the way that we did invite the Border Patrol and protection Customs and Border Protection folks here tonight. They did respectfully decline our our offer so Stuart. Well that's that's too bad in a sense because we'd like to hear from them even though they're not the policy makers we understand Catherine tell us. Who do you have with you in the library there in Newport. On this warm summer

evening. I'm sorry let missed that last part Stuart who is with you in the library there. What kind of a crowd. Well actually we had it was very nice we had about 40 people or so come to visit including some people from Quebec that I'm looking forward to talking to. And our next break about some of the issues that Newport is facing. So I'll learn more about that then. There are a lot of people that I met during our coverage and production of this event and some of them are here tonight which is which is a nice thing. It sure is. As far as. Yeah Catherine he was with us from the Goodrich library in Newport and will be going back to Katherine as she mentioned. You raise some really good issues here about this border issue which I guess is not really something that Derby Line and Stansted have a lot of control over. And we talk about this. I mean Robin Smith makes a powerful point there about that you know there's never been a fence and this is not a metal fence or a concrete fence that you see you know in the Middle East or along the Mexico border but it's a bureaucratic fence

and you can certainly understand listing how much they frankly don't welcome it. What I'd like to say something i'm because we're not talking about the passport issue it's based on the security objective of the federal government. And since 9/11 and it has been an important issue and I think on the Canadian side we share the same objective and the security is important and even if the both federal government I've worked I've invested a lot of money in infrastructure and a lot of equipment. The provinces I've done the same too. And we have done our homework and go back and we have signed agreements on Ike's change of security information you know with Vermont with the with New York with Maine and New Hampshire to make sure that you know it's not only the the the custom officers at the border but that you know the did the state troopers and the Quebec's it assisted that came back are working together to make sure. That the security is is there all the time. So I think everybody has done their homework since 9/11 and it's it's

more and more efficient and at the you go by. But the problem is that you know even if we believe in that when we get at the border we know the passport and the Al did the did the different a documented task by DHS. They are in Washington D.C. and all of them have six passports because they are traveling all over the word the ICRC and all custom officers and all of that but so that's why we understand clearly what the people here in Derby Line in and stands to that are living with. It's a day to day exhaust sizes and why should you need a passport. Could they have a passcode could they have an enhanced driver's license. The question is on the table and the problem we have seen in the past a few days is that the DHS as as has worked faster than what was asked by the satyrs and Senator Lees that is it is a one with a working their very strongly on that is that the essential it's supposed to be generate two thousand and nine. But from the way

DHS is working you want to apply in the past before that. And so so we have a lot of issues to cover it and the equipment is not at the border. You don't know you know how to use are you different doctor. It's it's a big issue you know. Hold that thought just for a second. If you just in case you haven't been following every tick of this this conversation. Tim Shea with the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce there's a huge issue for you and your membership. You don't want this passport requirement to take effect in January of 0 8 which would require overland crossings to have a passport in either direction. Not at all I know we're talking as a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative part of the 2004 Intelligence Reform Act requiring folks to need a passport to get into the U.S. as France outlined and you just saw the documentary and then the follow up what this means aside from the economics of the unintended consequences of this legislation we all want safe water. There's no question about that but not at the expense of flow of commerce back and

forth across the border. This is a train wreck going to happen here and thankfully. Senator Leahy and our entire congressional delegation the governor too has been very supportive of finding a solution to have safe borders but not at the expense of you know we heard we all heard the numbers of people going back and forth across the border. We hear the stories of the folks that live right on the border that it's their it's their fabric their way of life. And the way we're heading now is January 1 0 8 to have the required have a passport to get into the into the US. Second part of that so flawed in this all the solutions that are being discussed don't apply for our friends our Canadian friends. So there's a lot of work to do on this. The travel component of all of us just in terms of the tourism flow back and forth. Now we have a Canadian exchange rate that is approaching par for the first time in a generation or more since since Nixon was president practically. We haven't seen the Canadian dollar and the US dollar so close and there are some who think that the Canadian dollar may become more

valuable than the US dollar before the end of this calendar year. Where do we stand right now in terms of the passport requirements. Let's say this goes forward and you not only add a passport to fly but also just to cross the border. What kind of a hurdle is that what kind of what percentage of our Canadian and American citizens have a passport now. Well in Canada moment it's a bigger percentage in the U.S. it's something around 40 percent but those people are traveling to do Europe as much as driving to the U.S. So to the the sounds of the winter. So so it's a bigger percentage in Canada but we have only 20 some millions. So but when you have 300 millions like you in the U.S. I mean it's it's a lot more people don't have to need the passport in the U.S. and that's a challenge for the passport offices. I bet it is. You think we're going to. Will Americans buy passports I mean they're expensive you got a bunch of kids. Twenty percent of Americans have passports 40 percent of Canadians currently

percent 20 percent. So eight in 10 American citizens do not have a conflict. And we've seen what's happened since January when the air portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Whitty went into place the demand that the Department Homeland Security and State Department cannot satisfy the demand for passports. And I am convinced as are others that this is just a small percentage of the type of demand you would experience when the when and if the land portion of Woody goes into effect. The conversation on the web just so it is following up on this notion of Derby Line in Stanstead Quebec and what you're going to put in the street to block or you can put a fence barbed wire flower pots What are you going to do. It's a unique question that's that's germane obviously to our program but Mike how much do you worry about this. Well I think it is it's going to be significant for us if you think about the numbers that we talk about for trade between the between the state of Vermont the province of Quebec. There's a tremendous amount going back and forth and some of it is big and in fact it's very symbiotic.

Those are the chips that go to come back come back to the states through Vermont often so used. So those types of things are going on and this will create additional bottlenecks in terms of getting that done something that we may be able to work our way through. You have to really try to figure out how is the best way to get this done and keep it run smoothly and keep the border safe as fronts in this war you know it has to be fluid and save that so I think we all agree on that but you know that in Europe you can you can travel from Sweden down to the bottom of economy with the same passport. So they have the same security issues that we have in North America and they have found a way you know to deal with it differently than using a passport you know to to cross from one country to another. They have the illiterates in the way so why can't we North America without a new technical technology go tools we have we have IBM here in Vermont and in Quebec we have I'm sure you know and we have creative and innovative we have we can find ways to do it

is simpler. I mean if we could go to the moon in the 900 sixties and with it why can't we find ways to resolve that these in at the moment. What about the notion of a national identification card something short of a passport that was secure and tamper proof. A number of the candidates running for president have been talking about this and I thought we this was an alternative that I haven't heard about lately in Washington is that concept dead really is dead I think there is and there is some merit to the fact of possibly using the driver's license as a means to provide the information people need to cross a border that does get towards the some people have the the concerns of the national I.D. and the privacy of folks but there's a currently. A pilot program the state of Washington where using a driver's license to cross into British Columbia that's being watched closely by everyone involved. We are fortunate that this good side about this issue of the passport is not just a from a back issue. We've been working closely with the folks in Bellingham Washington Detroit

Michigan Buffalo New York really right across the border tried to find a solution. But as far as the national I.D. I think this pilot program in Washington state will provide some information how that can work. It's important note that it's an opt in because some folks are concerned with the fact of putting that type of information on their driver's license. And currently it's an opt in to provide that information if you want to use it to get across the border. You're watching a Vermont public television special good fences good neighbors a program we present in the public interest here on the PTA We invite your telephone calls right now and through our 9:00 hour toll free at 1 8 6 6 4 2 4. L I V E 4 2 4 L I will be going back live via satellite to Newport Vermont and Catherine Hughes a bit later on a number of issues raised in the documentary we just saw we've been talking about the border issues in what some consider offensive. The proposal by DHS to close some of the side streets and cut off these tiny little communities that are very much in the Quebec Vermont tradition. But there are a myriad of other issues that were raised by

this and I want to touch on one. I don't know much about which is the political relationship between the province of Quebec and the governor and the government of Vermont in New England. Is it Jenny it was is it is quite genuinely close not diplomatically and wink wink but is it is it is it a friendly relationship. Yes and they were genuine is the right one because the relations between the leaders are very good you know they meet very often twice he and they discuss in their issues. And they have signed agreements between Vermont and go back on on Energy and Environment trade tourism culture and education so so its not only the leaders its the the four governments on both sides that are working and meeting very frequently to deal with the issues they are you know between the two of the states the states and the province for example take the Lake Champlain issue you know the fact that we have some environmental issues and the only issue the pollution issues. OK so I know that some some Democrats are meeting you know in June twice

and during the month of June on that issue. Its being photo op you know on the bus very seriously on both sides. The men from regular you know like it's the same thing. So you know what they are it's not only you know talks and talks and talks. There is a real work and being done on every you know difficult issue in the moment. Stuart I'd prefer that France and we and our counterparts from the other two north northern New England states have had meetings as well. There are there are commonalities that we have that are greater than the border I mean we are Northeastern. We are northeastern North America. We have rural communities we have all of those challenges that that go along with those particular characteristics that we all recognize that in order for our mutual economies in the regional Cami in general to thrive we've got to work on together. So we've had some beginning conversations and I've met with some of my counterparts in Montreal from time to time. There are places where we can go and there are places

where we can go in those areas as well as in technology transfer types of activities are in the University of Vermont and some of the higher education community and come back. We're also talking with each other about how they can collaborate and jump economies for example is opening a school in Montreal on this right. So so so we know that it's happening in every sector in the cultural sector for example there are no troops from from callback you know coming to a different center to do all the festival the Champlain Folk Festival. And there are people from from Vermont going up to the jazz festival in Montreal. It's a it's a must. So so it's happening in every sector. And you were at the meeting in Quebec City. You're going to have you worry in which the premier your boss the Premier and Governor Douglas your boss you were apparently they have a pretty good relationship. Yeah I did and as a matter of fact you know they were. Hosting that

that that's for one European environment you know it was the first time that all the eastern Canadian provinces including Quebec and that of the New England states were meeting to get their own boat subject at the same time sharing information and issues and solutions on both on both issues at the same time so it was a first and that that first was you know organized by Vermont and Quebec. So and every time there is a big issue of the governors and premiers conference you will see Vermont and go back working together to put that on the table and make sure that if we were to say that you know what we're coming so it's so it's a it's we were talking about the passport issue there is going to be a didn't expound France in June in Prince of the island and there is one has to resort to show that they are being prepared by demography for example on energy and it's done bilaterally. They are complete they have complicity you know. I favor Neverland that's that's that's great.

When the Hydro Quebec deal which is set to expire in five or six years. I think yes. So electricity to Vermont for the forseeable future. I think I took a back once to Sally electricity to Vermont and recently the Governor Douglas was updated to James Bay with that with a delegation from Vermont. Looking at the installation over there to see you know and there was some discussion with you on that. You're watching are good fences good neighbors under by public television. We had a call in from Roger judo I hope I haven't. I've got that right from Burlington who says it's more expensive for Canadians to buy a passport than it is for an American citizen because Canadian passports expire in five years rather than a decade here in the US is Canada going to change that. Well they are looking into that but at the moment it costs $90 for 5 years or so so it's more expensive than I think it's the same amount of 10 years than for the US Passport. But if you had a family of four for so before you go into your

vacation you have to pay something like $360. So yeah it's a choice you stay home because you cannot afford to pay for the passport when you do you take your vacation. So what do you think people will come down on that I mean tourism is such a critical industry to the Green Mountain State. Is it going to end Canadians or a third of Vermont's tourists. This kicks in what happens. Well it be devastating. And Bill Stanger was on the documentary set at the beginning of this process what Canadians are friends of the north come here by choice. There's wonderful natural resources be it outdoor recreation which is very important to our friends in Canada. There's wonderful natural resources in Canada as well. And if there is a reason a barrier reason that they come a passport if only one person or two people in the party have a passport the others don't they'll simply stay home and be devastating. And just so we're clear. The very latest on this is is that currently you know you don't need a passport to come into the U.S. But Senator Leahy's amendment gives Department Homeland Security the time until June 1 0 9 to implement the land portion

Department Homeland Security currently is moving forward with a January 1 0 8. It went to action today there was some success in Washington with us as a result of Senator Leahy's efforts that we feel that we could be working toward a date certain of June 1 0 9. But there are still a lot of work to do on it. The economic trade the hard goods that we saw as well in this program. I didn't know that we import and export as much computer chip technology as we do. This is big stuff Mike. It absolutely is and it's critical. The work that takes place and adds value to the work that takes place in Essex Junction and then creates value for the company that then it gets exported internationally. And you saw the list of consumers that buy the products that have our chips in them. We also are a major importer of aircraft parts that come to the states. There's a lot of work that gets done right

here in Vermont in the aircraft business aircraft maintenance business that's very valuable to us we have other companies that ship stuff to come back. That then turns or turns around and finds its way back here and you have to remember as well that for Vermont comeback is a market that's over 10 times our size and there's a great opportunity for Vermont companies for a comeback. The the the toehold that presents itself in the United States is also highly valuable. You can be and we've seen that in economic development in the state of Vermont going back decades. Where are the comeback companies establish a relationship in United States right within our borders and the and the good stories that we've seen from from our side of the house. The recruitment stories where Canadian companies come here because they find that the the relationship that they can establish with them on economic development officials both the regionals and the state officials really makes the process work. It's about people as a lieutenant governor and the governor of France and Tim of all said

really it's a the relationship is is that important it's very important. You know it's hard to measure. You have some of the high profile Canadian companies doing business here like Jay Peak Resort and more or husky in Milton is that is that a trend you see going forward or is it just the world is so competitive the border makes it's where you going to find a good deal. I'm not so sure that it's about the deal. You know we saw activity going both directions when there was a broader gap in the extreme change rate than we have today. We're seeing activity today. It is to a great degree and to it if it's dependent upon what the value add to being in the United States is for a comeback company and vice versa. I mean it's not accidental I'm sure that that Americana takes place in Montreal and that we find ourselves going up there and talking about the same values and say meet those that come back as in terms of getting our companies out there and and selling environmental products and helping them access a broader market.

That's a very important relationship and and we're pleased to have been there now for the second time and as things go well we think we'll do it as often as we can. We have a lot of small companies here and in the state Dell as well that have cut back routes. Either they are subsidiaries or and or affiliated companies that are family owned. And those are very important. You've got two major transportation arteries going down through the state of Vermont that allow Montreal and Quebec City and Sherbrooke companies to do business in the United States and those are those are easy access to a very large market that's the other piece of it. Connect may be more than 10 times our size. United States market is much greater than just what you see in the state of Vermont. It's just I think when we're talking about culture it's easy for a Quebec company to open an office so manufacturing in Vermont for example people mess the way all these manufactured amendments where they have you

in Vermont. We get no whiz is in these cycles in business in the clothings for screwing business is in Vermont and they are manufactured in Vermont. Why have they chosen Vermont it's because they feel comfortable it's easy and it's close to the border but it's you know that's that's a that's a choice that their business would make. And I think it's good because the. It opens the door like you said you know to the U.S. market but at the same time you know you can't keep you know it's the same culture of working culture and you share the same interests. You go to Jazz Festival on both sides. So you you have you know there is a human factor that is there and I think it's quite important that's why you know Vermont is very very interesting for big companies but energy is likely to remain just critically its message is what's on our Web chat right now is with the we talked about electricity a little bit but but also this the fact of Vermont gets all of its natural gas from from Quebec and we there's such a focus here now on trying to reduce the carbon footprint and trying to become energy more

energy efficient. We have an old housing stock and so forth. Whether or not the natural gas is going to continue to flow and sort of the the the energy relationship which is so critical to to those of us on those on both sides of the border. The well I think you know if you're trying to look at the carbon imprint our carbon footprint in the state you know we recognize that 30 percent of the energy electricity in Vermont comes from hydro compact and that's not a not a carbon footprint generating they're a big contributor the fact that we're negative carbon footprint state that we actually are a carbon sink and you want to go ahead and just wanted to had to that that you know for the natural gas and there are some new projects and call back you know some some porch and oh that's going to have a new one. And he said that natural gas sportin LNG ports facilities so in these parts of Quebec So when you are talking about the need for Vermont of natural gas which is

the case at the moment Anderson you know that their natural gas is coming from from Trans Canada from the west coast of Canada. You may you know you may know that you know it's there is some natural gas that would be coming from the schools also. So that's security. That's the unity. And you when you want to develop your economy you need to make sure that you have the energy efficient in the system supply of energy that you will have be able to say to the new companies yes come to invest in Vermont come to invest in Quebec because that's resolved. So that's is that is accretive tarea and very important for the new company. You're watching a good fences good neighbors here on Vermont Public Television. We invite your telephone calls it's toll free. The number is 1 8 6 6 4 2 4 L I V E were with you tonight until 9:00 o'clock our guests include our friends Dionne a diplomat from the province of Quebec to all of New England.

Tim Shea vice president with the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and Mike Quinn the commissioner of the department of economic development for the state of Vermont. As promised we want to send you back now to new port where Catherine Hughes is with us along with the crowd has been watching and been very patient. And Catherine you're going to tell us a little bit more about some of these issues that are near and dear to folks up in Orleans County to the new port and border communities out there. Well actually Stuart I'd like to have my guest do that with me tonight is the mayor of Stanstead Raymond Gates I'm very happy that you were willing to come down and visit with us thank you very much. And I also have Tricia Sears here who is the head of the Renaissance development project for Newport city. And both of these people deal quite a bit with tourism issues as I understand it. So I'd like to start by asking Mayor Yates Do you have concerns about. The summer as far as the border issues are going I would understand Vermont.

The runners are perhaps important to the economy of Stansted in the area or are no concerns. Of course there's lots of concern not only people from Vermont but from people from out of state also from the New England the five New England states. But there's people that come from different parts of Canada really not only come back but they do come to Vermont also just securing the borders says is one thing. You know that has to do a lot with tourism if we broadcast at Stansted or Derby Line it's not a good place to come or even fast. As study of it as not very good you know for us what we're trying to do and we have been working at different issues and we're going to continue to work at different issues pertaining to tourism to try to bring Vermont and our area Stansted and region of Megara which we share the beautiful lake my from a dog together so that we can

increase the amount of tourism. OK I understand from talking you Trish that your two regions are working together for the first time to promote tourism is that true. Well we have certainly started working together and Mayor Yates and his city manager Pierre came down about a month or so ago to visit and to share success stories because Newport is getting ready to apply for downtown designation from Vermont. So the mayor came down but alas he was stopped at the border and he was not able to pop his trunk. So. Could not cross. So he had to go and get his city manager Pierre and then they were able to come down. So we were very worried about the chilling effect and it was only a couple of weeks ago that I went up to Stansted to attend a tourism meeting and one of the things that was said in your in your piece was talking about balance and talking about regionalism and the CapEx Keva quar is definitely looking to work with us. The Northeast Kingdom has

just become one of only two National Geographic Geo tourism places. We're going to attract a lot more attention. We want to be able to share our tourism with them and also bring them down here and we're very worried about the chilling effect. Yes I was going to ask. That is a true you couldn't open your trunk can you. They would let you through. Well I know one time that I would throw away and I was there for a lot longer than I wanted to be as very strict at the customs. They have a job to do and all that but lots of people acknowledge that they feel intimidated. We feel like you know we're really criminals when we get there to the port. But I do recognize that you know the officers that are there there have no chances to take what was soever. So we comply. But it's not a very comfortable situation to have to live in. But I understand yet the economy right now the exchange rate is very favorable for Canadians to come to

this country. So you're I would imagine you're excited about that. And we're looking how to capitalize on that we don't have the amount of beds as county does so that they have the advantage of folks coming down from Canada spending the night and being able to take more back with them. But this is something that is part of the renaissance project and Tony Parma who grew up here is has been working with us. Closely on the renaissance project and is very keen on us being able to do that exchange understanding that our catchment and many people don't realize in Newport includes share Brooke which as you know over three hundred thousand people and there's a lot of wonderful things that are being developed around our lake that we want to be able to share and capitalize on. Well thank you very much I guess that the message I'm hearing is come visit to the Newport Stansted area region. I'd also like to say that this library here that we're standing in that's part part of a renaissance Yes it's I understand this is just room has been redone recently and it's

absolutely gorgeous and if anybody any of you viewers out there in the area you should make a point of stopping in at the Goodrich Memorial Library because it is a lovely place and I'd like to thank everybody that's helped us do this tonight. So thank you very much. It's very important. It's my pleasure. Stuart. Well Catherine Catherine thank you very much. We're glad that the federal authorities allowed the mayor to come through and join you there in Newport tonight. I guess we should be grateful for that but you know we're kind of shaking our heads here in the studio that we have to go through this sort of thing. You know you hear story after story. I repeating what I said earlier the unintended consequences of some of the of the proposed rule that's not even in effect yet. And what that's done to from the perception of the need for a passport to slow traffic across the border is specially now from an economic development perspective. And the value of the tourist economy where you have the most favorable economic conditions that we've had in a generation or an influx of Canadian

visitors. And I don't know how strong the Canadian dollar is if there is that barrier of the need for a passport they simply won't come. You know we have three million people 90 minutes away from downtown Burlington. And where they can't quite cross the border here would be devastating not just to Burlington but the entire state. You're watching it. Good Fences good neighbors of program live special here in the public interest on Vermont Public Television we want to acknowledge our call in our car callers who one of whom Loney Phillipe from Quebec asks if Quebec becomes a country how will the U.S. trade with them directly. Or there is there is an old question that I have and that's a question Judy as an old question but let's say that you know now we have I think we have agreements between Canada and the U.S. and you can see that even with those agreements we have got to do security you know the issue is big and all that so.

So I'm sure that's a no we don't need any move Francis you are right as well. Richard day from St. Alban's. What is the North American Union and how will it benefit the U.S. I think that might refer to that comment at the very end of the documentary that the border is inevitably coming down and we're all going to be just one North American Union again perhaps more of a fantasy. There was some discussion about that there are some people on the federal level while discussing that some council while thinking about it but I think that one of the big issue was always in the about the dollar and who could we share the same dollar as a new addition to their share of the rule. But beside that issue you know let's face it in a way when you look at the block of the word there is Asia. There is Europe and there is there is no time America. So if we if we cannot and open up in a one to two share MORGAN Oh and signed more agreements

between the US and Canada in a way you know the others that have been doing their work that way and you know you look at the European community. Now I don't know how many countries the other member of that that that group but its quite strong and not the acting king and in Asia it's the same so so we have to face the future and see what's the best for a month and call back as the best for US and Canada. Looking at the world looking at the Asia of the moment with India and China that are getting so strong so we have to fight to to to to face it and to find a nice way to to work together to make sure that we are not losing. So I think that if we are working more and more together we can do much more to compete with Asia as an example. Not to be too prevention but when you have a diplomat in your midst you have to ask these questions. You're based in Boston. Yes friends yes. So and there are six New England states and you're a delegate to all of them. Yes. But as you're tonight in the only state in the country whose

names origin is French to them is the relationship. How does how does the Vermont relationship compared to those around us with with Quebec. Well we have been talking about everything that's we have been doing together in there and I think that it's well done and it's at very many levels of their relations the relationship is is strong. We have some relationship also with New Hampshire and Maine because we are bordering those two states also and with Massachusetts in the connectives and Rhode Island. You realize also that they offer a lot of Franco-American people. And that's a basic quite interesting because something like 25 percent of the population of New England is Franco-American they speak less French than they used to. OK but still we share the same culture. So when there is a folk your group coming to Vermont to Massachusetts where everybody is there to action because that and those people they cross the border and this is their cousins that they come up to

call back over even tradin in the Maritimes provinces you know and they come and so so they do that every year. And it's important because it's family relations. So just that fact is important and makes. We are talking a bit about business but if you're talking about culture and then family relations you know it's there all the time. And for the 400 anniversary of Quebec City that is going to happen in 2008. Vermont is working with Quebec but not only Vermont but they are communities in ever States and they want to to share you know that event because Champlain came down you know to Vermont but also to Maine to New Hampshire and to to Massachusetts down to keep God. So if you look at every sector of our own activity we have relations with that we knew and then you know and it's important that's why you know the Quebec office has been open since 1970 and we are carving out the state of the Union State the cultural issues are interesting because we have Montreal television seen on most

Vermont cable systems and the reverse is true. The Vermont television stations are seen throughout most of the province of Quebec and so you sort of have this reminder when you're flipping through the channels of our neighborly relations but it's interesting to me. Your Lake Champlain chamber did some research recently that tried to see how how other people felt about you and other people felt about visiting Northern Vermont and what their perceptions were. And you did some research in the Montreal region and which tell us what you found. Yeah we did a branding study for people's perceptions of the greater Burlington area as a destination to visit. And we did focus groups in Boston and then also in Montreal. And anytime we do focus groups are always as they are intended to be eye opening experiences. And a lot of it was confirming what you already knew. But what we what I really walked away from it was. Montrealers where we conducted the focus group a look at Vermont and

Burlington as Discovery. Somewhere different and you we take it for granted that we're we're here and we know we look at Montreal or someplace different discovery to go but it we really are a world away. But 90 miles away and so we'll still be building upon some of those themes as we reach out to Montreal and Quebec especially as we head into the fore here anniversary of Champlain in Quebec and then he made his way down to the Burlington. Are there opportunities here that we have not realized. I mean I just can't let the current the historic currency exchange developments go without saying are we are we marketing Vermont as a tourist destination. Are we welcoming border issues aside as as effectively as we could. Oh I think we're making great progress in that area. We are certainly marketing on the tourism side and a collaboration that we're talking about for our own for the quaters and for Lake Champlain. The back and forth we do again as Tim

said it is a discovery for many Vermonters there is a big city up there that's extremely or Bane and extremely cosmopolitan and presents that opportunity. There are others as well that we really that we really can expand on and work on. And it's wonderful to have seen this relationship between the province and the state develop over the four years through for the Premier and the governor and for us to be able to go. We've made these these steps on the political front and are making additional steps in other areas of business be they Energy be their tourism or be they technology driven activities. There are some great incubators business incubators technology and computers and come back in complexity and in a in and around Montreal that we can learn from and then we can leverage mutual relationships as well. Well the rays are just a litany of interesting issues and the economic the PAR. I

wasn't sure that I was going to see this you know 10 years ago it seemed just so improbable. When you had a 50 percent exchange it just it upsets the entire entire apple cart but do you see does does the Lake Champlain region see opportunity here to miss what we do. We see tremendous opportunity and we're experiencing some that opportunity right now we talked before the show about and the documentary spoke about the airport National Airport 30 percent of the folks flying in and out of Burlington are for full back which is a record the record and I don't think you would see that I think a lot is related to the success the airports had in bringing in some tremendous carriers but I think the dollar value carrier builds as well. Yeah it's something that I know the new facility in Plattsburgh wants to take advantage of and it's something that the Burlington Airport manager is been mindful that Trudeau in Montreal is beginning to notice. So it's really the leadership of the Burlington The National Airport as far as you know the mountains you know here in French is working on signage the website to accommodate our friends in the north.

It will be a rate of exchange and we we have to talk about the group etc. it's a quite the challenge for corporate companies that been selling you know in the U.S. and I've been exporting and for us it's the export is 80 percent of our market. And I would say that you know what is in the advantage for the Quebec companies is they can buy some some equipment to be more productive cheaper than before because of derivatives was very high so it was more expensive now it's better so. So if you could what companies have to be in the habit of and the fact that they can buy you know some equipment cheaper and how it will help you stay in the events of incompetence of even if the dollar no indeed the rate of exchange noise is that high. Well that's the other flip side of the things that go into that meeting and exchange it makes our exports more favorable. Yes it makes it our foreign travel more expensive button but it does cut both ways. I'm not sure the store if I could go back to Montpelier without having

also said that that this this relationship does we welcome the opportunity for Quebec companies to do their expansions in Vermont and trade in U.S. dollar denominated transactions to take some of that currency exchange out of it and and it is it is an expansion it's a convenience type of thing that might that might be beneficial to both of us again we talked earlier about Vermont as the portal to the rest of the U.S. market. I want to before we run here tonight make sure that we have one more opportunity to go back to my colleague in our documentary producer tonight Katherine Hughes who is at the Goodrich Memorial Library in Newport Katherine. Yeah Hi Stuart I now have standing with me. Paul Monette I'm sorry who's been extremely helpful setting all of a lot of this up he's also the library board here at the Goodrich Memorial Library. And he also happens to be the the Board chairman of the Newport city city council. Yes. Yes probably better than I can.

Oh yes I'm a member of the trustees here at the library and also present the Newport city council. OK I understand that you're right in the middle of the renaissance project as Trish is was talking about which involves perhaps this library and downtown Newport where the library went through a major renaissance. Two years ago we basically did a major renovation of the building this beautiful Rome and things like that and so we want to take what happened in the library and have it happen on Main Street Newport revitalize the old buildings bring back the facades and things like that and so that is one of the main goals of the design committee of the renaissance project. As there's different committees that are involved this project committee promotion committee and things like that and so I'm really excited about this whole project and. I think once we fix up the main street and have things taken care of you will see more tourists coming down from Canada and things like that and hopefully the passport regulations won't deter that. Well I notice we're Ed and I were out on the lake a little bit tonight and there are a lot of Canadian flags flying from the boats and

whatnot so it looks like you have a fair amount of Canadian visitors already. Yes we do. Yes we do on the lake and quite a few come down from a dog quite often just for an evening at the Eastside for dinner. OK well thank you very much. It was a pleasure thank you so much for having us here tonight I really appreciate it. And back to you Stuart. Catherine thank you for all of your work. That was great. We were talking here about a call in that we got here just a couple of minutes ago and I think we have to acknowledge the obvious here Jean Davis who is in Newport watching tonight asks the $64000 question here. Have people forgotten the reason for high border security. We've been talking with molding the new regulations of the difficulty in crossing but of course that's the bottom line for us. Yes and I think that's you know everybody has the security in mind. Everywhere you are in Canada you are at the government of the government of the security of good big and Provincial a state or municipal level. This question of who is I mean it's always there in

our mind. Now at the moment where we I think there are a lot of things has been done on the U.S. side and on the Kenyan side also. And that's why you know when we are talking about how we change our fridge that's a framework. The selection of immigrants has been though and as been reviewed and they are more investigation they were before a lot of things have been done to make it make Canada you know a more secure place you know to come and to and that you know you look at the operational capability of the law enforcement agencies. You look at the exchange of a security information you know that all the technology equipment that has been put this is to make sure that it's more secure than it was before. And it's it has been done on both sides of the border not only in the U.S. but in Canada out so and that that has to be taken into consideration. That's where we'll leave it tonight France. Jim Shea and Mike Quinn a great panel thanks to Katharine Hughes as well that will do it for us tonight on this in the public interest

special. If you'd like more information about the issues raised in our program or to buy a copy of our documentary just visit the BPT website for more. For now I'm Stuart blood better for Vermont Public Television thank you for joining us and good night. Production funding for this in the public interest program on Vermont Public Television is provided in part by the United States Department of Agriculture rural development.