Senate Resolution No. 2662

BY: Senator KENNEDY

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
February 10, 2020, as Canada Day in the State of New
York

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 the important international trade corridors, the Quebec-New
York Corridor, the Capitol Corridor, and Continental One, as well as the
busiest crossing between Canada and the United States in terms of
passenger vehicles at the Peace Bridge; and

WHEREAS, The New York-Canada partnership boasts the largest
bilateral tourism industry in the United States with over 5.53 million
Canadians visiting New York, accounting for over $1.6 billion in
vacation spending; and

WHEREAS, Canada is New York's primary export market, with $13.8
billion in exports and $30.7 billion in bilateral trade in 2018; and

WHEREAS, This relationship has led to more than 700 Canadian-owned
companies operating in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Those companies are responsible for more than 680,900 jobs
throughout the state, with average salaries of $57,030; and

WHEREAS, Reflective of this strong relationship, when the Consul
General of Canada in New York State launched the Canadian Technology
Accelerator for digital media, 80 Canadian companies traveled to New
York for the program with 25 percent of program participants
establishing a presence in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Government of Canada's Canadian Technology Accelerator
program helps high-potential companies from Canada grow their business
in New York State; since its inception, the Consulate General of Canada
has brought almost 250 start-ups to the fast-growing tech center that is
New York, leading to new partnerships, investment, technology
collaboration and jobs, with at least 25 graduate companies now basing
their expanding US operations in New York; and

WHEREAS, In 1919, Lieutenant Colonel John A. Cooper opened the
Canadian Bureau of Information in Times Square to promote Canada - U.S.
trade relations; this year, in 2020, the 101st Anniversary of Canada's
presence in New York will be celebrated; and

WHEREAS, The Quebec Government Office in New York is celebrating its
80th Anniversary in New York City; and

WHEREAS, The United States and Canada share a long-standing
commitment to working together for our common defense and security; this

relationship is clearly illustrated through the Eastern Air Defense
Sector, which is located in in Rome, New York; this NORAD division
houses Canadians and Americans who stand shoulder to shoulder as
brothers and sister in arms protecting the skies from attack; and

WHEREAS, Canada and New York also share a commitment to 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; and

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

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 10, 2020, as
Canada Day in the State of New York; and be it further

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