ACTE”s first Canada Conference will be held on November 19-21 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel Fairmont, Montreal. The conference will host over 200 business travel professionals with more than 34% of those represented companies being corporate travel buyers. Over 12% of the conference delegates will be from Western Canada.
Canada Border Services Agency vice president Greg Goatbe will discuss traveller safety and security enhancements, with a focus on Canadian perspectives of Canada-U.S. border issues. Mr. Goatbe will examine changes impacting travellers due to recent terrorist activities, traveller security issues, and U.S. implementation of (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) WHTI passport requirements effecting Canadian and U.S. travellers.
Attendees participating in the Goatbe session are advised that the session qualifies for credit towards the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) education requirement for certification.
Canadian and US officials have engaged in continual dialogue regarding WHTI and the potential impact on the economies and border communities of both countries. During the Cancun Summit, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President George W. Bush engaged in constructive dialogue regarding the proposed Initiative.
Canadian Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Stockwell Day, stated in September 2006 that despite concerns over the potential economic impact, the two governments continue to collaborate in an effort to "secure our shared objective of keeping the border open to legitimate trade and travellers but closed to terrorists and criminals".