Busy weekend in Hamilton, Ontario

This weekend belongs to Hamilton, Ontario. Tens of thousands of people are coming to Hamilton this weekend for the Supercrawl and the Locke Street Festival. In addition the Canadian Country Music Industry family is celebrating Canadian Country Music Week at the Hamilton Convention Centre and Country Music Fanfest concert will be held in Jackson Square this morning and early aft. Finally, the CCMA Awards Monday night with a special appearance by Keith Urban.




-- Post From My iPhone

News Release from the PMO - Prime Minister Harper wraps up successful visit to Latin America

As a Hispanic Canadian, I am very pleased to see Prime Minister Harper working to strengthen our trade, business, education and friendship relationships in Latin America. I am a strong believer that Latin America (all of Latin America, but particularly Mexico and Brazil) is strategically very important to Canada.  Here's the news release from the PMO about the Prime Minister's latest trip:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrapped up a highly successful visit to Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and Honduras during which he met with political and business leaders and announced 25 initiatives in a broad range of areas, including on trade, air transportation, taxation, development co-operation, and support for human rights, peace and security. These initiatives will deepen Canada’s ties with these important hemispheric partners.

“Canada continues to be an active player in the hemisphere, strengthening economic ties with its partners, improving market access and promoting security,” said Prime Minister Harper. “The many agreements signed during the visit will support job creation and economic growth in Canada and for our trading partners, which in turn, will contribute to advancing security and democratic governance in the region.”

The objectives of the trip were to promote and enhance security in the region and to increase Canadian prosperity through trade and investment. The following results demonstrate that these objectives were met:

In Brazil, the Prime Minister announced the following 11 initiatives:

• An Air Transport Agreement


• An Agreement on Social Security


• A Memorandum of Understanding on Olympic Games Cooperation


• A Memorandum of Understanding on International Development Cooperation Effectiveness


• A Canada-Brazil Strategic Partnership Dialogue


• Renewed Funding for the International Science and Technology Partnership Program


• The development of a Science and Technology Action Plan focused on innovation


• The first scholarships granted under the “Canada-Brazil Awards: Joint Research Projects” 


• The Governor General's leading of the Canadian delegation for the next Conference of the Americas on International Education to be hosted by Brazil in April 2012 


• The creation of a Canada-Brazil CEO Forum, and the appointment of Mr. Rick Waugh as Canadian co-chair of the Forum 


• The opening of three new Visa Application Centres

In Colombia, the Prime Minister announced the following 4 initiatives:

• The entry into force of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement on August 15, 2011


• Increased Canadian international development assistance to benefit children, at-youth risk and promote human rights


• Support for new and ongoing projects that will enhance peace, security and justice in Colombia and the region


• Colombia’s accession to Canada’s Military Training and Cooperation Program (2011-2014)

In Costa Rica, the Prime Minister announced the following 7 initiatives:

• The launch of negotiations to modernize the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement, with a commitment to conclude negotiations one year from now


• An Air Transportation agreement


• A Tax Information Exchange Agreement 


• Canadian support for the Costa Rican Police Enhancement Program to help Costa Rican national police officers gain advanced training and mentoring through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police


• Canadian contribution of equipment to the Costa Rican police academy


• Canadian support for capacity building and security training for the Costa Rican tourism industry


• The opening of a new Visa Application Centre in Costa Rica

In Honduras, the Prime Minister announced the following 3 initiatives:

• The conclusion of negotiations toward a Canada-Honduras free trade agreement


• Canadian support to increase food security in Honduras


• Canadian support to help address regional security challenges in Central America, including Honduras

The measures announced over the course of this visit are intended to enhance commercial flows, regional stability and security. They build upon the many successes of our Government’s Americas strategy, which is focused on promoting prosperity at home and in countries of the Western hemisphere, reinforcing democratic governance, increasing economic prosperity and advancing our common security

Do you Bollywood? Do you Bhangra? You've never seen Ottawa like this.

Wilbur is back!

Bhangra in the Capital from Ottawa Tourism on Vimeo.

Canada’s Travel and Tourism Industry Welcomes Introduction of Ten-Year Visas

Ottawa, July 20, 2011 — The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) enthusiastically welcomed today’s announcement of a new, ten-year multiple-entry visa for international travelers wishing to visit Canada.

Internationally, tourism is the world’s fastest growing export sector, and much of the growth is being fuelled by a newly-mobile middle class in emerging markets such as Brazil, India, China, and Mexico. Enhancing Canada’s ability to welcome these potential visitors has the potential to mean millions of new customers and billions of dollars in foreign currency injected into the Canadian economy.

“A ten-year visa will help to put Canada back on an even footing with other destinations in the competitive international travel market,” said TIAC President and CEO David Goldstein. “This is a common sense solution that will make the visa process more efficient for our government, and more convenient for our valued international visitors.”

TIAC recognizes the work of Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney on identifying the need to facilitate legitimate travel from our key allies and trading partners where there is no threat. Increasing access to Canada is one of the tourism sector’s key priorities, and the need for modernization of our visa system has been articulated as a vital aspect of enhancing access and to help Canada’s tourism sector grow and thrive.

This simple solution will help to bring Canada in line with other destinations, and will provide both travelers and the department with the means to facilitate trade in the tourism sector. It is also a further demonstration of the Harper government’s commitment to promote growth in the tourism sector, and will help to support the interdepartmental initiatives in the forthcoming Federal Tourism Strategy.

Source: press release Tourism Industry Association of Canada

Had enough of Will and Kate? Watch them as they stroll through Ottawa (courtesy Tourism Ottawa)

Cordon Bleu Mexican Chef in Ottawa this week - great French Mexican fusion cusine.

Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa is pleased to announce that Chef Miguel Ángel Quezada, Executive Chef at Casa de Francia five diamond Le Cordon Bleu restaurant in Mexico is visiting Le Cordon Bleu Bistro at Signatures restaurant this week.

Chef Quezada  has created a fantastic Mexican French Fusion menu which will be served at our Ottawa restaurant this Thursday and Friday night only

Pulled pork tortilla, roasted pineapple garnish, achiote sauce

Coconut soup, mango and jicama dice, mint and plantain chips

Sautéed Tilapia chorizo crust, guacamole with guajillo pepper oil

Chocolate fondant from Oaxaca, vanilla ice cream, orange and cherry tomato compote

I don't know about you, but if I was in Ottawa this week, I'd definitely go to the Cordon Bleu. The soup alone looks like it's definitely worth it.

Bon apetit,

Jaime

D

Ontario reaches out to the kids to stimulate domestic tourism

Good idea.

A few days ago, on the last day of school, kids in Ontario received a booklet called the Fun Pass courtesy of the Ontario Government. Good idea to encourage staycations and vacations in the province. Every child in Ontario schools got one. Kids 14 and under get coupons included in the booklet that gives them free admission to several provincial attractions like The Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara; Ontario Place, the Ontario Science Centre and The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto; the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington and Sainte-Marie among the Hurons among many others.  So the kids get in for free, but they will have to take at least one (paying) adult with them, right? 

Cheers and happy travels,

Jaime

www.cactusrock.com