Canada takes steps to form Denver consulate- – a move that reflects the opening up of economic lines with the United States’ northern neighbor.

Office will have full staff of 12 by next year

By Gargi Chakrabarty, Rocky Mountain News

Canada set up a consulate general office in Denver this week, albeit unofficially – a move that reflects the opening up of economic lines with the United States’ northern neighbor.

A team of high-level Canadian diplomats visited Denver over the past few days to meet with state and city officials, including Gov. Bill Owens and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

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The visit kick-started the local consulate with the appointment of Doug Paterson, consul and senior trade commissioner. Paterson’s office is at 1400 16th St. in downtown Denver.

The official announcement will be made in Canada in the next month or so, said Christopher Thomson, the Canadian consul general in Minneapolis. He will initially oversee the Denver office.

"It’s a recognition of Denver as a business and investment center," Thomson said, noting the consulate will have a full staff of 12, including a consul general, by next year. "The consulate will allow us to maintain close relations with the governor’s office, the mayor’s office, the chambers of commerce and the World Trade Center (Denver)."

Including Denver, Canada has consulates in New York; Seattle; Chicago; Dallas; Detroit; Boston; Los Angeles; Buffalo, N.Y.; Minneapolis; and Atlanta. The Denver consulate will oversee Canadian concerns in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.

Canada – the top U.S trading partner – also is an important partner of Colorado, said Tom Clark, president of Denver Metro Network, the economic development arm of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Colorado led the nation with a 24.4 percent increase in exports to Canada in 2002.

Also, Denver is host to the U.S. headquarters of several Canadian companies, including EnCana Corp., an oil and gas company; Suncor Energy Inc., which recently bought a local oil refinery for $150 million; and PCL Construction Group Inc.

"We know that it’s very important to have favorable relations with the governments wherever we operate," said Alan Boras, EnCana’s spokesman. "Canada and the U.S. have interconnected industries; we live in the same continent and operate similar businesses.

"It’s important for the governments of Canada and the U.S. to enhance those business relations."

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