NCSL Denver Office FALL MEETING NCSL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND LEGISLATIVE STAFF COORDINATING COMMITTEE Loews Hôtel Le Concorde 1225 cours du Général-De Montcalm Quebec City, Canada 1-800-463-5256 418-647-2222 September 29/October 2, 2011
SCHEDULE/AGENDA Executive Committee and Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee Quebec City, September 29-October 2, 2011 IMPORTANT INFORMATION Protocol for entry to the National Parliament Building and all of their sponsored events: Your NCSL Badge must be worn at ALL TIMES. Your name will be on an Authorized NCSL Delegate list. Photo ID must be presented upon request Loews Hotel Le Concorde 1225 cours du General-De Mont Phone: (418) 647.2222 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 th 10 am Interested Legislators: Questions Period at the Parliament. Need badge and rsvp to Deana.Blackwood@ncsl.org 12:00 1:30 pm Check-in at Hotel and Badge Pick-up for International Task Force Members 1:30 5:00 pm International Task Force Meeting 2:00 5:00 pm Badge pick up for other guests checking in 6:00 7:30 pm Reception hosted by National Assembly (for all guests who have arrived) (Observatoire de la Capitale-Nationale Observatory (A 2 block walk from Loews Hotel) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 th All meetings today are at the Loews Hotel (Please note some meeting times may change slightly.) 7:00 am through-out the day PICK UP NAME BADGE 8:00 5:00 pm State & Local Taxation of Telecommunications and Commerce Task Force 8:00 9:00 am LSCC Staff Section Meeting 8:00 9:00 am LSCC Strategic Planning Work Group 9:00 1:00 pm LSCC Subcommittees and Work Groups 1:15 3:00 pm Full LSCC Meeting 3:00 5:00 pm Continue hotel check-in Delegates pick up badges. This is to allow for afternoon arrivals or flight delays to get checked in and pick up badges and any additional information.) ALL DELEGATES MUST HAVE BADGE FOR ADMITTANCE TO THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENT BUILDING time tba Dinner for everyone hosted by National Assembly President Jacques Chagnon Transportation will be available to Chateau Frontenac; or it is a 15-minute walk from Loews Hotel. (Business attire). SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 st All meetings today are at the Loews Hotel until 3:00 pm. 7:30 9:00 am Breakfast Meeting for All Executive Committee and LSCC Members Only. 8:00 5:00 pm Energy Supply Task Force Meeting 8:30 10:00 am Standing Committees EC Work Group (meeting overlap is noted) 9:30 11:00 am Budget Committee (meeting overlap is noted) 11:00 12:00 pm Programs & Strategic Planning Subcommittee (1 st half of meeting)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 st (Continued) 12 pm 1:45 pm Lunch and Program for EC/LSCC and interested others Hosted by the Executive Council of Quebec. Topic: Economic Progresses and Innovations in Quebec with a short Q&A following presentation(s). 2:00 2:45 pm 2 nd half/programs & Strategic Planning Subcommittee Meeting FULL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING IS TO BE HELD AT THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING 3:00 3:15 pm Depart hotel 2 block walk to the Parliament Building 3:30 5:30 pm FULL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING 5:45 pm (guided) Tours of the Parliament Building (spouses/guests and others are invited to join). Reception follows and is already set up in designated place in Parliament Building. Dinner is on your own. (Many restaurants are in the immediate area. See Restaurant List available onsite at registration.) SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 nd 5:30 am Energy Supply Task Force Legislator Members meet in hotel lobby to board bus for James Bay Hydro-Power Plant Tour. (Tour space limited and is by invitation only.) Quebec Hosted Walking Tour (Optional) 9:00 11:30 am Two guides will give walking tour of Quebec City for attendees with plane departures at a later time. Lunch is on your own. ON REGISTRATION; FEES; BADGES; INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TIPS Advance Registration: It is important for ALL attendees to register in advance for this meeting. Admittance to the National Parliament Building for all events is with an NCSL badge only. Security Officials at the Parliament Building will have a list of REGISTERED ATTENDEES which will facilitate clearance and admittance. The same procedure applies to the hosted dinner at the Chateau Frontenac on Friday evening. Registration Fees for Executive Committee/LSCC Meetings. There is NO registration fee for legislators, legislative staff, their spouse or guest, nor for NCSL Foundation Platinum and Gold Sponsors. There is a registration fee of $300 charged to all other attendees. NCSL offers online registration which will ensure 1) you have a proper badge for yourself and spouse/guest; and 2) your name(s) are on the official registration list. To register online copy and paste this link: https://comm.ncsl.org/onlinestore/ncslmeetingregistration/tabid/186/default.aspx. If you need assistance with this process or have any questions, please contact Lisa.Castro@ncsl.org or Paul.Parsons@ncsl.org. Denver Office Phone: (303) 364.7700 Passport. You will need a valid Passport (check the expiration date) to enter Canada.
About Quebec City, Canada. Your first sight of the Château Frontenac Hotel lets you know that you have arrived at a very different place. Quebec City is the capital of Quebec Province, but the first few miles of the city next to the St. Lawrence River have an old Europe, medieval appearance. Narrow back streets, sidewalk cafes, old architecture, and a French-speaking populace all combine to give you the atmosphere of a very special place. French is the official language of this province, and not everyone speaks fluent English. Geography. Québec City is located in the Saint Lawrence River valley, on the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River near its meeting point with the Saint Charles River. The region is low-lying and flat. Economy. Most jobs in Québec City are concentrated in public administration, defense, services, commerce and transport. As the provincial capital, the city benefits from being a regional administrative and services centre. Around 10% of jobs are in manufacturing. Main products include pulp and paper, processed food, metal/wood items, chemicals, electronics and electrical equipment and printed materials. Public Safety. Québec City is known for its low criminality, having one of the lowest crime rates in North America. Voltage/Electricity. Standard Canadian power is 125V at 60 Hz. Most hotels provide guests with hair dryers and clothes irons. Outlets are type A (two flat) or B North American 3-pin (two flat one round ground) Suggestion. Notify your credit card company you will be using your card in Quebec. You may You may wish to convert US Dollars to Canadian Dollars prior to entering the country. A bank will often convert for a lesser charge than an airport service. Visit www.xe.com/ucc for conversion rates. Cellphones. check with your carrier to see what roaming rates are and inquire as to any special instructions to get the best use of your cellphone while there. Hotel Loews Hotel le Concorde Reserve your room at the Loews Hôtel Le Concorde. Reservations may be made at: www.loewshotels.com Choose destination Quebec, choose group and enter NCS299 Telephone: 1-800-463-5256 or 418-647-2222 Fax: 418-647-4710 Email: leconcordereservations@loewshotels.com Rate is $199 CAD per night. Deadline to make reservations is September 8, 2011. Cancellation policy: 48 hours prior to arrival; no-shows charged one night's room and tax. Reservations must be held by one night's room deposit (credit card guarantee is acceptable). NCSL cannot be responsible for guarantees. After the deadline date, reservations will be accepted at the meeting rate based on availability.
Transportation Airline Reservations The closest airport is the Quebec City Airport (YQB) which is served by most major carriers. (Direct flights from U.S. to Quebec City: From Philadelphia; Detroit; Newark; and Chicago.) Make your reservations through NCSL s official travel headquarters (Christopherson Travel Service) to receive: Access to 24-hour toll-free telephone line for changes/emergencies. $150,000 flight insurance coverage. Rental car reservations. Reservations should be made at least seven days in advance To make reservations, Call Christopherson Travel Services. 303. 694.4344 from 7 am to 6 pm Mountain Time; or toll free at 1.800.825.3283 Ground Transportation. The hotel is approximately 20 minutes from Quebec City Airport. Taxi fares average $35 one way. REGISTER ONLINE AT https://comm.ncsl.org/onlinestore/ncslmeetingregistration/tabid/186/default.aspx. If you need assistance with or have questions about registration, please email: Lisa Castro, Registrations Manager lisa.castro@ncsl.org Paul Parsons, Staff Assistant, Executive paul.parsons@ncsl.org It is important that you register! Your registration assists us in making name badges, obtaining meal counts, preparing the registration list, and transportation planning. Thank you for your cooperation. Please Note: There is NO registration fee for legislators and legislative staff, their spouse or guest, nor for NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures Platinum and Gold Sponsors. All other attendees will need to pay a registration fee of $300. To obtain further information about this meeting, please contact Deana Blackwood, 303-856-1499, deana.blackwood@ncsl.org or Paul Parsons, 303-856-1498, paul.parsons@ncsl.org Hoping to see YOU in Quebec City!