Laura Lochman : USA Consul General for Alberta, Saskatchewan & N.W.T.
On Thursday the Calgary Chapter of The American Chamber of Commerce met for cocktails at the Osteria de Meidci restaurant in the Kensington district to listen to Laura Lochman, the USA Consul General deliver a summary of President Barack Obama's state of the union address to the American Congress and the implications of statements made in the President's speech that would effect the relationship between Canada and the United States of America.
I found the Consul General to be a most articulate and captivating speaker. After delivering her speech she entertained questions from the audience. Being a former debate coach, I asked her the President's position on The Keystone XL Pipeline. The Consul General did not skirt the sensitive issue but told the audience that the pipeline is not cancelled and that TransCanada can reapply for a new route through Nebraska that will be more environmentally acceptable. The Consul General elaborated on security and cross-border crossings between Canada and the United States. The three year term for Laura Lochman is coming to a close and in six months she will be reassigned as the Consul General to Columbia in South America.
