After transferring to the position in the summer, John Nay, the United States consul general to Ontario, is seeing parts of Northern Ontario, including Greater Sudbury, for the first time.

Nay spent two days in town learning about Sudbury and taking a tour of the city, including the campus at Laurentian University, Inco's Stobie Mine, Landing's Restaurant and city hall. On Tuesday (Oct. 17), Nay also met with Mayor Dave Courtemanche at his office at Tom Davies Square. Nay signed the city's historic guest book and discussed the city as a tourist destination and its relations with America.

Nay said he was also in town to discuss the new documentation that will soon be needed to cross the border between Canada and the United States. Starting in January 2007, anyone flying across the border will need a passport or an equivalent document while people driving across the border will need a passport by January 2008.

"Because I just transfered this summer, and hadn't had a chance to be up here yet, I wanted to make sure I could do that as soon as possible," said Nay who still has visits to Espanola and Sault Ste. Marie on his agenda.

As consul general, Nay, who is from Michigan, said his job is to get involved when issues arise between America and the province of Ontario.