The Babuk Report

Category: International Affairs

  • Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Credit Seminar

    At the invitation of the Ontario government trade representative to Chicago, I attended the Scientific Research and Experimental Tax (SR&ED) seminar last Friday, June 12.  It was held at the Mid-America Club, on top of the Amoco Building / Aon Center / Standard Oil Tower / whatever that building is known as these days.

    The seminar was hosted by various Canadian, Ontario and Quebec government entities.  While the amount of information concerning this topic was only ‘scratched’ during this presentation, it still seemed to be a  rather exhaustive description of the type of tax credits out there; the types of research that may be funded by tax credits and the criteria that fundable research must meet.

  • Canada, as a Presentation and as a Networking Organization

    Friday, 5 June 2009

    A few weeks ago, I was approached by a relocation service to make a presentation describing Canadian history, government and culture to a family moving to Canada.  While I do many public speaking engagements throughout the year, this was the first time I had been invited to speak on this topic.  It took a bit of research outside of my typical sources, especially when one of the questions related to federal vs. provincial responsibilities described in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the historical basis for how this came to be.

    It seemed that a presentation like this required a learned academic; however, I had been recommended by a source who would know better.  I was quite flattered to have been asked, and to have delivered a presentation like this.  The presentation was held today, and it was most enjoyable.  The audience and client appreciated the talk as well.

    Afterwards, I had been invited to attend an organizational meeting of the US / Canada Business Council, for which I participated.  This group – to be part of the Canadian Club of Chicago – will work to foster networking and understanding between US and Canadian business communities.  A relevant concept with many possibilities, I’m happy to be part of its founding.  We threw around several ideas for organizational concepts and potential events, with the goal of a September inaugural event.  Things are slow for Chicago’s business networking community during summer.  More later.

  • Breakfast with the Consul General of Canada

    Thursday, May 28, 2009

    This morning, the Canadian Club of Chicago hosted a breakfast presentation by the Honourable Georges Rioux, Consul General of Canada.  It was held at Chicago’s Cliff Dwellers Club.

    It was a great opportunity to catch up on some old friendships and to hear the Consul General speak, a tradition in its third year.  I was able to converse with Georges alongside some new consular staff, giving them my sixty second tour description of Chicago.  For this group, I mentioned Eglise Notre Dame de Chicago – a Roman Catholic parish built on the site of the original Pere Marquette mission but since enveloped by the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. This neighbourhood is described on census maps of the 1870’s as being populated by “French Canadians”. An historic though unusual octagonal building with a pipe organ made by Casavant Freres of Ste. Hyacinthe, Quebec that has maintained french speaking clergy throughout its years; it claims to boast Quebecois roots.  My observation is that now and again, I  have noticed the term “expulsion” in describing its original congregation; I think that they may have actually been Acadiens from New Brunswick.  Still others from the Consulate theorize that they may originated with french language people groups from Saskatchewan, though I couldn’t imagine the numbers of those people being able to populate a neighbourhood in Chicago.

    However, in conversing with a group at the Cliff Dweller Club about Historical sites in Chicago, little compares to the lumpy old leather couch in the Cliff Dwellers’ Reading Room.  Urban legend has it that as Louis Sullivan fell difficult financial times, he used to crash on that particular couch and maintain his Club membership, rather than rent a boarding room.  This couch is still there in original condition, though one would think that it has since been cleaned.

    Next month, the Canadian Club will host a similar presentation by Marc Boucher, Head of the Quebec Government Office in Chicago.  M. Boucher’s presentation is timed to occur on St. Jean Baptiste Day.

    Meanwhile, I am part of a group that has been asked to explore founding the United States / Canada Business Council; an organization within the Canadian Club of Chicago dedicated to furthering business ties and understandings, and to promote opportunities between the US and Canada.  The idea is to build off of this series, beginning with a series of breakfast presentations featuring topical speakers.

  • Luncheon with the Consul General of Spain

    Wednesday, May 13, 2009

     

    Javier Rupérez, Consul General of Spain
    Javier Rupérez, Consul General of Spain

    The lunch talk by Javier Ruperez, Consul General of Spain was fascinating – it was a very Spanish view of North America, that Spain was the founding country of the Americas, a viewpoint not necessarily heard in Anglophile circles like mine. Mr. Ruperez has represented Spain in the United States in varying capacities for about ten years – he was the Ambassador, and was also the United Nations Assistant Secretary General.  It was a small group, maybe 30 or so, including the Consul generals of Uruguay, Serbia and a couple others I didn’t catch.  There were a bunch of other people who worked in areas with international twists – business and legal translators, curators of museums and immigration attorneys. The talk was followed by a stand-up lunch of “Mediterranean” food, from the cafe Turquoise – lots of couscous and baklava.  I don’t recall seeing many grape leaves, but they would be difficult to deal with in a stand up lunch setting.

    This event was hosted by the Niagara Foundation. Though I don’t know much of it, The Niagara Foundation has many Turkish roots, it was established to promote international, cultural and religious understanding.  Although its initial bequeath was from a Turkish Muslim, I had a long conversation with a member of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago – he said that he was a regular attendee and found their programs to be excellent.  This is their website: www.niagarafoundation.org

    They have many programs, including lunch speakers and breakfast conversations.  Find a topic that may be of interest, I highly recommend attending.  Fascinating people, interesting conversation.