Ritchie: International Border Caucus Welcomes Consul General of Canada in New York to Albany

State Senator Patty Ritchie welcomed Phyllis Yaffe, Consul General of Canada in New York to Albany Wednesday to meet with members of the International Border Caucus and discuss ways they can work together to improve both nations. 

Senator Ritchie, who serves as co-chair of the International Border Caucus, formed the bipartisan, bi-nation group to bring together legislative representatives of New York’s northern border with Canadian officials to solve problems, improve communications and grow our economies. 

“Those of us who represent regions along New York’s shared border with Canada know that the bond we share is extremely important when it comes to everything from our economies to our cultures,” said Senator Patty Ritchie.

“I would like to thank the Consul General for again joining with my colleagues and I to talk about how we can work together to strengthen that bond, and in turn, strengthen both our nations.”

Earlier this year, Consul General Yaffe visited the Capitol for “Canada Day,” where the Senate honored the country with an official Resolution recognizing the cultural and economic ties that exist between Canada and the United States. 

A strong advocate for improving relations between Canada and the United States, last month Senator Ritchie traveled to Ottawa to testify before the Canadian Parliament’s Senate Defense and Security Committee.  While there, she spoke in support of a measure that would improve relations between the two nations, as well as boost tourism in the Thousand Islands region by easing strict reporting requirements for boaters.

(Attn. photo editors: Pictured from left to right in the above photo are Senator Robert Ortt, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Caroline Desrochers, head of Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Service at Canada's Consulate General in New York, Phyllis Yaffe, Counsel General of Canada in New York, Senator Patty Ritchie and Senator Joe Griffo)