Assembly Resolution No. 880

BY: M. of A. Jones

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
February 27, 2024, as Canadian Heritage Day in the
State of New York, in celebration of this great
Empire State's long-standing economic and cultural
relationship with Canada

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 27, 2024, as Canadian
Heritage Day in the State of New York, in celebration of this great
Empire State's long-standing economic and cultural relationship with
Canada; and

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; the border
features many important international trade corridors, including the
Quebec-New York Corridor, the Capitol Corridor, and Continental One, as
well as the second-busiest crossing between Canada and the United States
at the Peace Bridge; and

WHEREAS, Canada is New York's primary export market, with $24.9
billion in exports and over $42 billion in bilateral trade in 2021; and

WHEREAS, This relationship has led to 829 Canadian-owned companies
operating in the State of New York employing 58,750 New Yorkers; and

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

WHEREAS, Canada and the United States' mutual security and
prosperity rely upon these predictable and secure trading relationships;
and

WHEREAS, The United States and Canada share a long-standing
commitment to working together for our common defense and security and
the continuation of this successful relationship through the North
American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is paramount to the future
security of the people of the United States and Canada; this includes
the NORAD Eastern Air Defense Sector, in Rome, NY; and

WHEREAS, The United States and Canada have a shared commitment to
protecting the health and well-being of Americans and Canadians and have
agreed through a joint roadmap to strengthen comprehensive and
cross-sectoral efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborate on
public health responses, and build resilience against future outbreaks;
and

WHEREAS, Canada and New York also share a commitment to equity,
inclusion, and 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, Canada and New York recently celebrated this partnership
with the groundbreaking of the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a project
that will bring clean, renewable, hydroelectricity to power over 1
million homes in New York City, reduce climate emissions equivalent to
removing half a million cars from New York's roads annually, create
1,400 jobs during construction and $3.5 billion in economic benefits to
New Yorkers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 27, 2024, as
Canadian Heritage Day in the State of New York, in celebration of this
great Empire State's long-standing economic and cultural relationship
with Canada; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York; and Acting Consul General Tom Clark of the Consulate General of
Canada in New York.