Assembly Resolution No. 552

BY: M. of A. Jones

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
February 14, 2022, as Canadian-American Heritage Day
in the State of New York

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 14, 2022, as
Canadian-American Heritage Day in the State of New York, in celebration
of this great Empire State's long-standing economic and cultural
relationship with Canada; and

WHEREAS, New York and Canada share many additional deep economic,
historical, cultural and familial ties; and

WHEREAS, New York and Canada share an international border measuring
445 miles in length with 17 international border crossings including
three of the United States' top 10 busiest border crossings and
featuring many important international trade corridors, including the
Quebec-New York Corridor, the Capitol Corridor, and Continental One, as
well as the second-busiest crossing between Canada and the United States
at the Peace Bridge; and

WHEREAS, Canada is New York's primary export market, with $13.9
billion in goods exports and over $30 billion in bilateral trade in
2020; and

WHEREAS, This relationship has led to 690 Canadian-owned companies
operating in the State of New York employing 49,683 New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, The economies of Canada and New York are tightly linked
through integrated cross-border supply chains that keep our firms
competitive; and

WHEREAS, Canada and the United States' mutual security and
prosperity rely upon these predictable and secure trading relationships;
and

WHEREAS, The United States and Canada share a long-standing
commitment to working together for our common defense and security and
the continuation of this successful relationship through the North
American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, is paramount to the future
security of the people of the United States and Canada; this includes
the NORAD subordinate sector command the Eastern Air Defense Sector, in
Rome, New York; and

WHEREAS, The United States and Canada have a shared commitment to
protecting the health and well-being of Americans and Canadians and have
agreed through a joint roadmap to strengthen comprehensive and
cross-sectoral efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborate on
public health responses, and build resilience against future outbreaks;
and

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need of our
cross border relationship; throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of

Canadian healthcare workers have crossed the border daily to work in New
York State hospitals and medical facilities and our truckers have
ensured we have had food on our tables and goods on our shelves, a
testament to the deep ties between our two communities; and

WHEREAS, Canada and New York also share a commitment to equity,
inclusion, and diversity, highlighting it as a source of strength and as
a force that can vanquish intolerance, hate, and radicalism both at home
and across the globe; this shared virtue can only strengthen the already
robust ties that exist between Canadians and New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, New York and Canada are committed partners in addressing
the challenge of climate change and creating a stronger, more
sustainable economy through energy trade, shared innovation development,
and aligned policies and goals; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 14, 2022, as
Canadian-American Heritage Day in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York; and Acting Consul General Khawar Nasim of the Consulate General of
Canada in New York.