LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim March 5, 2012 as Canada Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, Canada is New York's primary export market, with $35.1 billion
worth of merchandise goods exchanged and almost 19 percent of New York's
worldwide exports sold to Canada in 2010; and 517,000 New York jobs are
supported by Canada-U.S. trade; and
WHEREAS, Over 19 million New Yorkers depend on Canada and its vast
energy reserves to fuel our state, importing over $4.7 billion worth of
energy from Canada last year including natural gas, petroleum and elec-
tricity; and
WHEREAS, There was a healthy and balanced trade in agriculture and
food products between Canada and New York State of well over $2.2
billion last year; and
WHEREAS, New York and Canada share several important international
trade corridors, including the Quebec-NY Corridor, The Capitol Corridor
and Continental One and 17 total international border crossings; and
WHEREAS, The New York-Canada partnership boasts the largest bilateral
tourism industry in the United States with over 3.4 million Canadians
visiting New York, accounting for over $1.2 billion in expenditures in
2010 and over 1.6 million New Yorkers visiting Canada, accounting for
over 569 million dollars in expenditures; and
WHEREAS, Canada and the United States on February 4, 2011 issued
Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic
Competitiveness, establishing a new long-term partnership built upon a
perimeter approach to security and economic competitiveness including
working together, not just at the border, but beyond the border to
enhance security and accelerate the legitimate flow of people, goods and
services; and
WHEREAS, The Eastern Air Defense Sector responsible for air sovereign-
ty and counter-air operations over the eastern United States is head-
quartered at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome, New York,
and is staffed by active-duty New York Air National Guardsmen and a
Canadian Forces detachment; the unit supports the North American Aero-
space Defense Command's (NORAD) integrated warning and attack assessment
missions and the U.S. Northern Command's (USNORTHCOM) homeland defense
mission; and
WHEREAS, New York's western and northern borders were the frontlines
in the War of 1812, a seminal period in the process of nation building
in both countries, and from whose death and destruction was born a
vision of peace between the United States and Canada which has resulted
in unparalleled cooperation, prosperity and friendship between two
nations, and where the deepest roots and daily expressions of this bond
can be found in the cross-border regions linking New York with its Cana-
dian neighbors in Ontario and Quebec; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 80 percent of New York's fresh surface water,
over 700 miles of shoreline, and 40 percent of New York's land, spread-
ing over 25 counties are contained in the drainage basins of the Lower
Great Lakes waters of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and the Niagara and St.
Lawrence Rivers, all shared with Canada; and sustaining life, providing
recreation, and supporting local and regional economies, the Great Lakes
are a true natural legacy to the people of New York and its neighboring
provinces in Canada, Ontario and Quebec; and
WHEREAS, Academic institutions in both Canada and New York are active-
ly engaged in a number of linkages and partnerships including exchange
programs and joint degrees; and

WHEREAS, Both Canada and New York State are actively engaged in a
number of partnerships in various fields of innovative technology which
are laying the foundations for their economic futures and mutual bene-
fit; and
WHEREAS, Canada and New York share many more deep economic, histor-
ical, cultural and familial ties as well; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 5, 2012 as Canada
Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York; the Canadian Consulate Generals in Buffalo and New York City; and
the Eastern Air Defense Sector.