In some respects, it's actually worse than a passport.
We hear a lot of positive comments from business people about where things are going. We're nearly at full employment, the Canadian dollar is expected to remain strong, and we also saw the ball get rolling on the Georgia-Pacific waterfront project.
It is clear to us that China is making huge strides to become the dominant economy in the Pacific Rim, and we thought this trip would be a good opportunity for Whatcom County businesses to network with similar Chinese companies.
For 200 years we've been able to move easily across the border. Anything that would deter people from making those border crossings is going to create huge economic problems for our communities.
For 200 years we've been able to move easily across the border.
One thing we've already learned is that China is really becoming more westernized when it comes to handling business transactions. There is still a lot for us to learn, however, and I hope this trip is just the start.
I can't say enough about how thrilled we are with the new partnership being formed by Peoples Bank and the Ski to Sea Race. We look forward to working with Peoples Bank to make Whatcom County's premier event bigger and better than ever.
