US embassy cable - 05OTTAWA1588

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 OTTAWA 001588 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE 
 
SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/W - EWILKES-SCOTT; 
WHA/PDA - JCARPENTER 
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 Program 
SUBJECT: FY 2006 IVLP, ITT on U.S. Public Policy Issues and 
the Broadcast Media 
 
REFERENCE:  OTTAWA 1504 
 
1.   Mission Canada proposes a two-person International 
Visitor Leadership Program which would acquaint two 
accomplished broadcast journalists in Halifax and Winnipeg 
with major public policy debates in the U.S. and how they 
are covered in the broadcast media.  Through meetings with 
federal executive, legislative and judicial branches, state 
and local governments, NGOs, industry and professional 
associations, and their counterparts in U.S. media 
organizations, they would gain insights into a) the workings 
of the U.S. political system, and b) how the diverse views 
of Americans merge in the policy-making process.  Specific 
issues on which they might focus include U.S. Homeland 
Security (e.g. balancing security measures with privacy and 
civil liberties concerns); U.S. Trade Policy (e.g. 
commitment to free trade, positions on agricultural trade 
distortions in world markets, U.S. trade remedies as applied 
to Canada-U.S. softwood, wheat and hog trade); energy and 
environmental policy, or domestic health care and social 
security debates. 
 
2.   Proposed participants, Wade Keller, Senior Producer, 
ATV news, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Kacey Wilson, 
Host/Producer "Today So Far", CJOB 68 Radio, Winnipeg, both 
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: 341 
ECA-PROJ-NO: 
PROJ-NAME: ITT U.S. Public Policy and the Broadcast Media 
(Keller, Wilson) 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
This program would acquaint two emerging broadcast 
journalists with major public policy debates in the U.S. and 
how they are covered in the broadcast media.  Through 
meetings with federal executive, legislative and judicial 
branches, state and local governments, NGOs, industry and 
professional associations, and naturally, their counterparts 
in U.S. media organizations, they would gain insights into 
how the differing views of Americans merge in the policy- 
making process.  Specific issues on which they might focus 
include U.S. Homeland Security (e.g. balancing security 
measures with privacy and civil liberties concerns); U.S. 
Trade Policy (e.g. commitment to free trade, positions on 
agricultural trade distortions in world markets, U.S. trade 
remedies as applied to Canada-U.S. softwood, wheat and hog 
trade); Energy and Environmental Policy (respective 
contributions of energy companies, auto companies, 
alternative energy researchers and producers, nuclear power 
proponents, conservationists, public utilities, and NGOs), 
Prescription Drug Trade, or the Social Security Debate. 
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: Politics & Parties 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Mr. 
F-NAME: Wade 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME: Keller 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 622 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 07/10/1966 
MAR-STAT: 
BIRTH-CITY: Kingston, Ontario 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Canada 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Canada 
RES-CNTRY: Canada 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Senior Producer, ATV News, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
Producer/Director, CBC Newsworld, Canadian Broadcasting 
Corporation (1998-2000) Halifax, Nova Scotia; 
Producer/Director, ATV/ASN News (1993-1998) Halifax, Nova 
Scotia; Photojournalist, Editor, Reporter, Producer, Camera 
Operator, Independent Television for the Maritimes - MITV 
(1990-1993) Halifax, Nova Scotia; Reporter/Announcer, 
CJCB/CKPE Radio Sydney, Nova Scotia (1988-1990); 
Reporter/Announcer, and Ottawa Valley Radio, Renfrew, 
Ontario (1987-1988). 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
private, short trips limited to New England and New York for 
tourism only 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
Caribbean and Italy, Spain and Portugal for tourism 
purposes. 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
Broadcast Journalism Diploma, Canadore College, North Bay, 
Ontario 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
Recipient of the CANPRO (The Canadian Television Program 
Award) for a special presentation in the 1998 crash of Swiss 
Air Flight 111 off Nova Scotia; recipient of the Radio- 
Television News Directors Association of Canada Merit Award 
for several half-hour documentaries.  As a student, a 
recipient of two achievement awards. 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
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: ConGen Len Hill 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Mr. Keller is one of this post's most important media 
contacts. His position as Senior Producer for ATV news, the 
Atlantic regional affiliate for Canada's largest private 
sector broadcaster, CTV, puts him in regular contact with 
the Consulate.  He works with us in coordinating TV 
interviews of visiting U.S. officials such as the 
Ambassador, U.S. Under Secretary for Commerce Grant Aldonas 
and other high ranking officials.  He also works closely 
with other host government officials and business and 
community leaders in coordinating similar interviews. 
ATV news is broadcast throughout three of Canada's four 
Atlantic Provinces and has captured over 350,000 viewers 
each evening, more than the Toronto CTV affiliate.  As such, 
Mr. Keller's work has a direct influence on how Atlantic 
Canadians view the U.S.-Canada relationship and U.S. foreign 
policy.  An IVLP project would give him direct exposure to 
politics and policymaking in the United States, as well as 
media trends, that will strengthen his ability to interpret 
United States news and events for the Canadian public. 
 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: ConGen Halifax 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: Yes 
E-I-TYPE: ELEO 
NOMINEE-ID: 510 
PERSON-ID: 392 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CA 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CA 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CA 
FIRST-LANG-ID: EN 
E-I-TYPE-ID: E 
NOM-POST-ID: 6540 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 322158 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 45.1001 
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: Ms. 
F-NAME: Kacey 
M-NAME: Ann 
L-NAME: Wilson 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 622 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
GENDER: F 
DOB: 05/28/1979 
MAR-STAT: 
BIRTH-CITY: Calgary, Alberta 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Canada 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Canada 
RES-CNTRY: Canada 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Host/Producer "Today So Far" on CJOB 68 radio in Winnipeg, 
Manitoba (current affairs/news program) 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
-    Host/Producer "Up Close and Personal with Kacey Wilson" 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
-    Host/Producer "Kacey at the Watercooler" on CJOB 68 
(open line talk show) -  Morning Show Co-Host /News Reporter 
at 94XFM/CJCI radio in Prince George, British Columbia- 
News Reporter/Desker at BKR Radio in Grand Forks, British 
Columbia 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
Grand Forks, North Dakota (2004) - Personal 
Los Angeles, California (1991) - Personal 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
none 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Southern Alberta 
Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary Alberta (2000) 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
none 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
none 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
Dietary / Medical Considerations:  None 
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: ConGen Todd Schwartz 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Engaging media leaders in Canada's central region in 
dialogue with Americans is important to post, both to 
provide issue-specific information and to shape reporters 
overall picture of the United States.   Although young at 
26, Kacey Wilson has  come into her own since taking over 
CJOB's afternoon call-in show late last year.  She has a 
quick and solid grasp of a wide variety of issues, and has 
an overall favorable impression of the United States. 
Wilson has a promising future ahead of her in broadcasting, 
and her appearance and demeanor will not limit her 
exclusively to radio.  Her quick adaptive skills and the way 
she puts her guests instantly at ease - while really teeing 
them up for the hard questions she is about to ask - will 
serve her well in years to come in whatever opportunities 
she chooses to accept. 
We believe that an IVLP at this early point in her very 
promising career would offer her the opportunity to see the 
United States from the American perspective, giving her a 
fresh take on the many issues that are important to U.S. 
interests in Manitoba and Canada. 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: ConGen Winnipeg 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: Yes 
E-I-TYPE: ELEO 
NOMINEE-ID: 512 
PERSON-ID: 394 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CA 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CA 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CA 
FIRST-LANG-ID: EN 
E-I-TYPE-ID: E 
NOM-POST-ID: 6540 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 322158 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 45.1001 
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