EDA Office of Foreign Trade • Riverside County, California • USA
October 2012
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a healthy Native American culture; a
shared interest in clean technology;
and close connections to their
respective region’s shipping ports.
Vancouver has experienced significant
migration and foreign direct investment
from China in recent years, and is
starting to see an influx of Mexican
workers in their agricultural fields.
“
It didn’t take much convincing to
help understand the importance
of establishing an economic trade
agreement with Riverside County,”
said Lee Malleau, CEO of the
Vancouver Economic Commission.
“
In fact, it didn’t take any convincing
at all. We really look forward to
exploring that with you further.”
The Vancouver delegation was very
interested in how Riverside County has
managed its natural resources through
the Multi species Habitat Conservation
Plan, which allows for development but
also enables the county to collect fees
to buy habitat for endangered species.
“
It’s an effort that was among the first in
the country of its kind,” Freeman said.
Both sides expressed excitement about
plans to create a system through which
unemployed construction workers in
Riverside County would be able to work
temporarily in Canada, which has a
shortage of skilled laborers. Riverside
County has been working with the
Canadian government to smooth
out the details of such a program.
“
This is Priority One, getting people
to Canada to work, because the
need is so great there,” said Lee
Fraser, founder, President and CEO
of the Canada California Business
Council, an organization that works
to strengthen business ties between
Canada and California. “We’re excited
that Vancouver and British Columbia
are going to lead the way on this.”
Supervisor John Benoit recently led
a group to the Toronto Film Festival
to investigate ways to bring film
production to Riverside County. Benoit
and the Riverside County Office of
Foreign Trade previously hosted a golf
tournament in the Coachella Valley with
the Canada California Business Council.
“
We look forward to a long and fruitful
relationship,” Supervisor Ashley said. “We
share many of the same goals, and we
really are grateful for your partnership.”
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th District Supervisor, Marion Ashley & Riverside County Chief Executive Officer, Jay Orr
present Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson with a custom guitar from the Fender Company.
Canadian & County Officials pose for a picture at the County Administration Center.
Lee Fraser, President & CEO of the
Canada California Business Council.
