SCHUMER ANNOUNCES CANADIAN GOV'T COMMITMENT TO MAINTAIN CONSULAR CAPABILITY IN BUFFALO TO HELP MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO WNY BUSINESSES & BORDER MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES, AHEAD OF FULL CONSULATE CLOSURE IN BUFFALO
Schumer Reveals Canadian Gov't Has Heeded His Call to Maintain Consular Services In Buffalo That Will Be Hugely Beneficial For US-Canadian Trade Partnership - Plan Helps to Mitigate Negative Impact Caused By Consulate's Closure
In June Letter & Phone Call To Canadian Minister Baird, Schumer Urged Reversal of Closure and, Short of That, Also Highlighted That WNY Would Massively Benefit from At Least Some Continued Face-to-Face Access to Consulate's Border & Trade Resources
Schumer: While Reversal of Poor Decision Would Be Best, Continued Canadian Presence A Big Victory in Preserving Trade & Border Relationship, Given the Alternative
Late last week, just days ahead of the planned closure of the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has heeded his call and will keep a permanent Consular presence in Buffalo in order to provide critical resources to western New York businesses and to offer expertise in cross-border management. In June, following news of the Canadian government's plans to close the consulate, Schumer urged that the Canadian government reverse its penny wise and pound foolish decision to close the western New York consulate. Short of that, he urged that, at a minimum, they mitigate the damage of such a closure, and commit to establishing at least some consular presence in Western New York. Given the fact that, according to Canadian policy makers, the Canadian Consulate's closure is set in stone due to mandatory government budget cuts throughout the Canadian government, Schumer highlighted that a continued smaller presence in Buffalo is still a significant victory for western New Yorkers and could prevent Upstate businesses from being forced to travel to New York City for consular services.
Schumer, who chairs the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, strongly opposed the closure of the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo and personally called Foreign Minister Baird in June to urge that Canada reconsider the potential closure of the Consulate. However, the Canadian government did not reverse course, and Schumer thus pushed this route, to ensure that consular services do not disappear completely for Western New Yorkers. Schumer is pleased that Minister Baird will at least provide some consular services in Buffalo even after the consulate closes. Schumer vowed to work closely with Minister Baird, Canadian officials and local stakeholders like the Buffalo Niagara Partnership to implement this plan with as large of a presence in Buffalo as possible.
"Given the fact that the Canadians have failed to reverse their unwise and counterproductive decision to close the consulate, securing boots on the ground to facilitate cross border commerce and more is a very positive result. The fact that the Consulate will have a continued presence in Buffalo is great news for preserving our trade and border relationship with our neighbor, and for promoting job growth and economic activity here in western New York," said Schumer. "I was extremely disappointed that Canada suddenly and mistakenly closed their Buffalo consulate, and I immediately pushed Canadian Foreign Minister Baird to establish at least a smaller part-time presence here - I'm thrilled that he has heeded my call. This plan will be both cost-effective and will have enormously positive impacts on cross-border cooperation and commerce, as this plan allows Canada to work within its budgetary constraints to provide similar services to residents, businesses and border officials in Western New York, while using fewer resources. I will work hand-in-glove with Minister Baird and other Canadian officials to implement this plan with as large of a presence in Buffalo as possible, to make sure that business and travelers in Western NY have the services and resources that they need to move forward successfully in trade and border management with Canada."
"While the closing of the Buffalo Canadian Consulate is unfortunate and, we believe, short-sighted given the importance of CanAm trade and tourism in our binational region, we are encouraged that the Canadian government appears to have recognized the importance of maintaining some presence here, thanks in part to the direct involvement of Senator Schumer." said Buffalo Niagara Partnership president & CEO Andrew Rudnick. "We have already begin conversations with the New York City Consulate, to whom we understand most of the oversight for the Buffalo Niagara region will fall, and have pledged our support to help its work here to be as effective as possible."
Schumer highlighted in his letter and personal phone call to Foreign Minister Baird in June that his proposal would mitigate damage to Upstate NY, and Canadian, businesses from the closure of the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo.
While final details are still being worked out about the number of staff and the hours of operation the Canadian Government has committed to provide to a smaller liaison office in Buffalo, it is clear that Canadian consular personnel will continue to serve the Upstate New York community. Schumer heard the call from community and business leaders in Western New York who have voiced concerns that the closure would significantly damage trade between the U.S. and Canada. While he remains firmly committed to the belief that the Consulate closure is a step in the wrong direction, Schumer will continue to work tirelessly to maintain consular services in Buffalo.