Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Speaking Frankly in Florida

David Wilkins is spending part of this week mixing it up with one of his most favorite Canadians – former Canada Ambassador to the US and current Deputy Chairman of TD Bank Frank McKenna.

The two former diplomats are pulling rough duty down in Orlando, Florida, where they are headlining the Canada Day portion of the TD Ameritrade Conference. Known for their frank talk and honest assessment of the US-Canada relationship (not to mention a well-honed comedy routine) the "Frank and Dave" show promises to deliver an interesting take on the current state of bilateral affairs. 

Ambassador Wilkins is focusing on "what a difference a year makes" discussing as always his concerns about US protectionism and "Buy America" provisions. Wilkins is also covering at length why Americans are rejecting the current health care legislation and now are highly unlikely to support cap and trade. He is heaping praise on Canada for its leading role in providing relief to Haiti and fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan. 

And of course this being an important midterm election year, Wilkins is offering up his take on what he thinks will be a "correction election" – when Americans vote to move the US Congress back to the  middle after 2008's hard swing to the left.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The TD Ameritrade Conference theme this year is Changes. Challenges. Opportunities.  The impressive event is attracting some major heavy hitters in addition to our beloved ambassadors including former US president Bill Clinton, former Canadian General Rick Hillier and wife Joyce and the person who truly makes Frank McKenna shine – his wife Julie.   

A special highlight of the conference for David and Susan Wilkins is time they get to spend reconnecting with their good friend and the ambassador's boss during his years of service in Canada – former US president George W. Bush. 

All About Angus

In last week's newsletter, we told you all about Ambassador Wilkins' trip to Montreal and his delight in reconnecting with old friends at Stikeman Elliott. But his editors dropped the ball and with it the name of the ambassador's great friend and VIP extraordinaire Senator David Angus. We regret the omission. 

Up to Ottawa

Team Wilkins is headed to Ottawa this Sunday for a way-too-quick visit.  We'll be there for less than 24 hours to meet with our VIP clients and great friends Porter Airlines President and CEO Bob Deluce and top flight attorney Lorna Counsell.  

On Eagles Wings

On behalf of all of us here at Nelson Mullins and Team Wilkins our thoughts and prayers are with Bob and the entire Deluce Family as they mourn the loss of Bob's beloved father and family patriarch Stanley "Stan" Deluce who passed away last week. 

As the National Post wrote earlier this week: 

Mr. Deluce was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, based in Wetaskiwin, Alta., in 2007. He carried a passion for aviation through his entire life, beginning as a pilot in the Second World War with the Royal Canadian Air Force. When he returned to his hometown of Chapleau, Ont., he married his wife Angela. The two started a family and a modest charter bush flight service after buying their first airplane, a Stinson, in 1951.

As White River Air Services expanded, Mr. Deluce's business grew from a charter company to one of Canada's largest regional airlines, eventually acquiring Sault Airways, Kapuskasing Air Service and Austin Airways, and supplying planes to countries as far as Denmark and France. He also later purchased Air Manitoba and Air Ontario, which he sold, under the umbrella of Austin Airways, to Air Canada in 1987.

Robert Deluce, Porter Airlines' president and CEO, said his father instilled a love of aviation, and an entrepreneurial drive, in him and his eight siblings from birth. He says some of his fondest childhood memories were formed flying in Cessnas with his father in White River, where his parents started White River Air Services.

Rest in peace, Mr. Deluce.