Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05OTTAWA1585
2005-05-27 11:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

FY 2006 IVLP, ITT Ground Transportation Safety and

Tags:  KPAO OEXC SCUL CA IV 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

271150Z May 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 OTTAWA 001585 

SIPDIS

STATE

SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/W - EWILKES-SCOTT;
WHA/PDA - JCARPENTER-ROCK
MONTREAL, TORONTO AND VANCOUVER FOR PAOS;
HALIFAX AND QUEBEC FOR CONGENS;
CALGARY FOR FIELD REPS; CALGARY PLEASE PASS TO WINNIPEG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL CA IV
SUBJECT: FY 2006 IVLP, ITT Ground Transportation Safety and
Planning

REFERENCE: OTTAWA 1504

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 OTTAWA 001585

SIPDIS

STATE

SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/W - EWILKES-SCOTT;
WHA/PDA - JCARPENTER-ROCK
MONTREAL, TORONTO AND VANCOUVER FOR PAOS;
HALIFAX AND QUEBEC FOR CONGENS;
CALGARY FOR FIELD REPS; CALGARY PLEASE PASS TO WINNIPEG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL CA IV
SUBJECT: FY 2006 IVLP, ITT Ground Transportation Safety and
Planning

REFERENCE: OTTAWA 1504


1. Post proposes a two-person IVLP project on Ground
Transportation Safety and Planning in the U.S. This project
would better acquaint two players involved in supporting
Canada-U.S. trade via truck to overall U.S. security
policies, U.S. border security concerns, regulation and
implementation, including both northern and southern
borders, ground transportation safety measures,
infrastructure planning and funding, and broader border
security measures, such as container inspection, bio-
terrorism countermeasures, and marine security cooperation.
The project would support Mission's objectives in protecting
critical infrastructure and promoting secure and stable
markets with the U.S.' largest trading partner.


2. Post nominates Stephen Laskowski, Assistant Vice
President, Ontario Trucking Association; Robert Kroeker,
Director of Commercial Vehicle Safety, British Columbia
Ministry of Solicitor General, subject to availability once
approved and invited. Both candidates have full country
team approval.


3. EVDB-formatted nomination follows:

START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT):
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables
: automated processing in Washington and should not be
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software.
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB
VERSION: 3.0.7
POST-EMAIL: slw@pd.state.gov
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Ottawa
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 6540
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA
START NOMINATION:
ECA-OFFICE: E/VRW
PROG-AGENCY-NAME:
POST-PROJ-ID: 330
ECA-PROJ-NO:
PROJ-NAME: ITT Ground Transportation Safety and Planning
(Laskowski, Kroeker)
START MEMO PROJ-DESC:
This project would better acquaint two players involved in
supporting Canada-U.S. trade via truck to overall U.S.
security policies, U.S. border security concerns, regulation
and implementation, including both northern and southern
borders, ground transportation safety measures,
infrastructure planning and funding, and broader border
security measures, such as container inspection,
bioterrorism countermeasures, and marine security

cooperation. The project would support the Mission's goals
of protecting critical infrastructure and promoting secure
and stable markets with the U.S.' largest trading partner.

END MEMO PROJ-DESC:
PROJ-TYPE: Individuals Traveling Together
PROG-TYPE: IV Grant Visitor
FY: 2006
DEPART-POST:
SESSION-DATE:
RETURN-POST:
NO-OF-PART: 2
RANK-ORDER: 0
START MEMO POST-OBJ:

END MEMO POST-OBJ:
START MEMO POST-RCMD:


END MEMO POST-RCMD:
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1037
PROG-AGENCY-ID:
PROJ-TYPE-ID: ITT
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 6540
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 322158
STATUS: N
ORIGINATOR: P
SUBJ-DISC: Transportation Systems
START BIO:
PREFIX: Mr.
F-NAME: Stephen
M-NAME:
L-NAME: Laskowski
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 123
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
GENDER: M
DOB: 07/07/1967
MAR-STAT:
BIRTH-CITY: Hamilton, Ontario
BIRTH-CNTRY: Canada
CITIZ-CNTRY: Canada
RES-CNTRY: Canada
START MEMO POSITION:
Assistant Vice President, Ontario Trucking Association
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
Associate Vice President, Canadian Trucking Alliance
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:

END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
travel in U.S. for business purposes - Albany and Buffalo
NY; Harrisburg PA; Trenton NJ; Lansing and Detroit MI;
Washington DC and Scottsdale AZ, all related to tax issues,
customs issues or meeting with other trucking
representatives; trips are infrequent and issue-driven
(other than Buffalo and Detroit)
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
none
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
Undergraduate honors degree (political science and history)
was from McMaster University; masters degree (public
administration) from the University of Western Ontario
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
Ontario Trucking Association, Canadian Trucking Alliance
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
none
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
Dietary or medical considerations (e.g. diabetic, allergies,
vegetarian): none known
Smoker/non-smoker: non-smoker


END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: English
ENGL-READ: 5
ENGL-SPEAK: 5
ENGL-COMP: 5
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:

END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Pol/Econ Janice Weiner
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
This nomination supports the post's goal of protecting
critical infrastructure and secure and stable markets.
Stephen Laskowski is following in the footsteps of Ontario
Trucking Association president David Bradley, who has become
a master at understanding and - in the correct fora -
articulating the border and transportation interests of the
trucking community, which moves so much of North America's
trade. It is essential that this indispensable cog in our
trade have a full understanding, not only of how to partner
and converse with various levels of government and business
on the Canadian side, but on the U.S. side as well.
Laskowski would benefit from meetings with DHS, to better
understand how the various border programs work and are
intended to work; with state departments of transportation,
not only in neighboring states, where contacts likely
already exist, but in other border states, such as
Washington State, California or Texas, to learn how others
deal with border issues; with members of Congress or
staffers to open a dialogue on border issues; and with city
governments that have dealt with knotty traffic problems.
It would give Laskowski, i.a., a greater understanding of
how security and efficient trade can be balanced, and help
him put the security aspect into its proper perspective.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: ConGen Toronto
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: No
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: Yes
E-I-TYPE: NONE
NOMINEE-ID: 517
PERSON-ID: 399
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CA
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CA
RES-CNTRY-ID: CA
FIRST-LANG-ID: EN
E-I-TYPE-ID: N
NOM-POST-ID: 6540
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 322158
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT: 52.0209
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT: 5
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: Mr.
F-NAME: Robert
M-NAME: George
L-NAME: Kroeker
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 120
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
GENDER: M
DOB: 07/29/1961
MAR-STAT: U
BIRTH-CITY: New Westminster
BIRTH-CNTRY: Canada
CITIZ-CNTRY: Canada
RES-CNTRY: Canada
START MEMO POSITION:
Director of Commercial Vehicle Safety, Government of British
Columbia
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:

END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
Director, Vehicle Licensing Policy, Government of British
Columbia
Constable, RCMP
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
Vacations to South West United States (Phoenix, Palm
Springs) 1 or 2 times yearly for 10 days at a time
Business
Washington, DC 3 days in January 2002
Houston, Texas 3 days in February 2004
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
none
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts, Criminology, Simon Fraser University
(1985)
Law Degree, University of Victoria (1992)
Masters of Public Administration, University of Victoria
(2000)
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
Canadian Bar Association
Law Society of British Columbia
International Public Administration of Canada
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
Proceeds of Crime - Journal Article
Legal Advice for Police - Journal Article
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
none
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: English
ENGL-READ: 5
ENGL-SPEAK: 5
ENGL-COMP: 5
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:

END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: CG Arreaga, PA Hillman and Eng
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Rob Kroeker, who works in the British Columbia Ministry of
the Solicitor General as director of commercial vehicle
safety, has a background in law, criminology and
transportation. The post nominates him for an IVL program
that explores ground transportation policy at the local,
state, and federal level in the U.S. as well as at the U.S.-
Canada bilateral level and NAFTA international level.
Mr. Kroeker sits on the Canadian Council of Motor Transport
Administrators, which is the body with federal, provincial
and territorial representatives who coordinate all matters
regarding administration, regulation and control of motor
vehicle transportation. This would include transport of
hazardous goods and transport strategies.
Mr. Kroeker envisions his future as an assistant or deputy
minister dealing with transport. He is very interested in
learning more about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, meeting state counterparts in commercial
transportation and law enforcement, and organizations
dealing with security and safety. Better knowledge of the
U.S. side of commercial ground transportation would assist
him (and Canada) to better harmonize transport rules which
he says can be quite divergent. Some examples in which U.S.
and Canada regulations differ include hours of service
(hours a trucker can be on the road),safety inspection
criteria, and border rules. He would like to see what
directions are being taken for common rules applying to
NAFTA, anticipating more tri-country trade in the future.
Mr. Kroeker presently does not have any contacts at the U.S.
federal and state levels of government. An IVL program for
Mr. Kroeker would be a useful means of opening
communications between our two countries in regards to
commercial ground transportation.
The president of the B.C. Trucking Association speaks very
highly of Mr. Kroeker and believes he has a bright future in
government. With a Bachelors Degree in criminology, a law
degree and a Masters Degree in public administration, Mr.
Kroeker has a solid foundation to be effective in his future
work, and in cooperating with American neighbors to ensure
secure and smooth border crossings.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: ConGen Vancouver
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: No
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: Yes
E-I-TYPE: NONE
NOMINEE-ID: 528
PERSON-ID: 407
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CA
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CA
RES-CNTRY-ID: CA
FIRST-LANG-ID: EN
E-I-TYPE-ID: N
NOM-POST-ID: 88501
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 322158
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT: 52.0209
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT: 5
END BIO:
END NOMINATION:
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT:

DICKSON, CHARGE