British Consulate-General Alex Budden
Posted by Bill Bourlet
Alex Budden spoke about his duties here in Vancouver as the Consulate-General for Western Canada.
He noted that this is the furthest west of all the British Consulates as the next one around the globe is Tokyo and that is the furthest East from London.
He mentioned that he wasn't going to tell then back home that he considers this place pretty civilised and not the Wild West.
75% of British tourists that come to Canada come to Western Canada.
Global tensions make his job more important and with us hosting the 2010 Olympics in Whistler security will be a high priority.
This will be the largest security operation ever for Canada and the British will be watching with great interest as they are holding the summer Olympics in 2012.
With BC hosting the winter Olympics that will provide a .25 increase to the overall Canadian GDP.
This is a significant increase for BC.
Business is an interest of his and matching requests from the U.k. and Western Canada and putting the requests together is all part of the job.
BC and Alberta are 25 % of the Canadian economy which is a shift to the West Coast. Research and development supply an engine to the economy. We have several joint programs operating with for instance cop operation between Cambridge University and UBC.
Several of the big national companies come here to do business.
This is very progressive and strengthening relationship between Western Canada and the UK.
In question time he mentioned that Run of River projects might have a significant increase over the coming years for energy development. Provided the fish can be protected.
We can never beat the Taliban "militarily" was the quote that the British general made that was misrepresented by the press by conveniently dropping the last word of the quote.
Keith Roy thanked him.