NEWS RELEASE

CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS ATTEND GREAT LAKES DAY AND THE GREAT LAKES CONGRESSIONAL BREAKFAST

From 3–5 March 2020, Mr. Vance Badawey, Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of the Canada–United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG), led a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians to the Great Lakes Day and Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast in Washington, D.C. The other member of the delegation was the Honourable Diane Griffin, senator.

“The IPG’s Canadian Section always welcomes the opportunity to speak with U.S. legislators and look for ways to work together for the benefit of the citizens and businesses of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River basin,” said Mr. Badawey. At these meetings with legislators and other stakeholders, the delegation discussed important issues of common interest, such as the importance of the Great Lakes economy, which has an estimated combined GDP of U.S.$6 trillion, and the sustainable management of our shared watershed. “At this event, the delegation had the opportunity to strengthen our important working relationship with U.S. legislators from Great Lakes states to ensure that the economic, environmental and social strategies attached to the Great Lakes have tangible action plans attached to them,” added Mr. Badawey.

Established in 1955, the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) is a bi-national group that includes the following Great Lake states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Ontario and Quebec have been associate members since 1999.

The GLC’s mission is to represent, assist and advise its member states and provinces through dialogue, consensus, collaboration and speaking with a unified voice to advance the sustainable growth and development of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River basin.

The views expressed in this news release are specific to the Canadian Section of the Canada–United States IPG.

The Canada–United States IPG aims to find points of convergence in respective national policies, to initiate dialogue on points of divergence, to encourage the exchange of information and to promote better understanding among legislators on shared issues of concern. Additional information on the Group can be found at www.parl.ca/CEUS.

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For further information:

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald, Senator, Co-Chair
Canada–U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-995-1866

Hon. Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P., Co-Chair
Canada–U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-992-2406

Grant McLaughlin, Association Secretary
Canada–U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-944-4238