Ambassador Jacobson addresses Vancouver Business Community

The United States' new ambassador to Canada was introduced to Vancouver's business community at a Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon November 30 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Ambassador David Jacobson underlined to about 160 attendees how President Barack Obama is intent on achieving economic recovery. The President's economic goals were mentioned in the context of his recent trip to Asia to develop and strengthen alliances with Asian nations, and in relation to steps being taken to help boost the number of jobs in both Canada and the U.S.

A question was posed on the U.S. Buy American provision, which has caused particular concern in Canada. Ambassador Jacobson acknowledged these concerns, but also noted that "the President believes in free trade." He added that 'extensive discussions' are being held at high levels in Washington, which both sides are finding 'constructive' regarding this issue.

Another trade-related question focused on the border, and why the U.S. and Canada cannot achieve open borders in the same way as the European Union. The EU model, responded the ambassador, involved a "significant surrender of sovereignty" on the part of the member nations. "Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are not prepared to make that sort of surrender," which makes it unlikely that the EU model would be replicated here.

Early in his address Mr. Jacobson complimented the Board of Trade in its efforts to facilitate border movement by advocating for the innovative PACE (Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council) program, a forerunner to today's successful NEXUS trusted travelers program.

The Ambassador told Board of Trade members how, after his work on President Obama's successful campaign, he was appointed as a special assistant to work on filling senior-level positions in government. There were 500,000 applications for 4,000 jobs. "We used to say the President is in charge of appointments and we were in charge of disappointments."

"There was only one person who got the job he wanted, and that is Barack Obama," he said. Until last September, that is, when now-Ambassador Jacobson was confirmed by the Senate for his appointment to Canada. "Now two people got exactly the job they wanted, Barack Obama and me."

The Ambassador said he and his wife, Julie, are looking forward to returning to Vancouver to attend the Olympic games.

See Vancouver Board of Trade’s speech summary.

Photos of the Ambassador at Vancouver Board of Trade