CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS MEET WITH THEIR
CONGRESSIONAL COUNTERPARTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
From 14–16 March 2016,
the Honourable Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P., House of Commons Co-Chair of the
Canadian Section of the Canada–United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, led a
delegation to meetings with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
in Washington, D.C. The other members of the delegation were Senators Michael
L. MacDonald, Vice-Chair, Paul Massicotte, Vice-Chair, Wilfred Moore, Q.C.,
Vice-Chair and Vern White, as well as the following members of the House of
Commons: Gord Johns, Steven MacKinnon, Vice-Chair, Larry Maguire, Don Rusnak,
Brenda Shanahan, Brad Trost, Vice-Chair and Dan Vandal.
While in Washington, the
delegation also received a briefing from Canada’s new Ambassador to the United
States, David MacNaughton, and his staff, and met with members of the Canadian
American Business Council.
“I was honoured to lead
the Canadian delegation to meetings with about 60 members of the U.S. Senate
and House of Representatives, and their staff,” said Mr. Easter. “Our annual
trip to Washington to meet with our federal counterparts is invaluable in
identifying ways in which our two countries can work together to solve
bilateral issues as they arise, and to cooperate internationally to further our
joint causes. This year, we discussed topics that included border security and
facilitation, bilateral trade in softwood lumber, the Trans-Pacific Partnership
agreement, water issues and cooperation in international armed conflicts.”
Mr. Easter concluded: “Of
course, the briefing from Canada’s Ambassador and the Embassy staff, and the
meeting with business people who are part of the Canadian American Business
Council, always provide us with important context for some of the issues that
are discussed during our time on Capitol Hill.”
The views expressed in
this news release are specific to the Canadian Section of the
Canada–United States Inter-Parliamentary Group. As such, they may not reflect
the views of U.S. counterparts.
The Canada–United States Inter-Parliamentary Group 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.gc.ca/iia/us.
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For further information:
Hon. Janis Johnson, Senator, Co-Chair
Canada–U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-943-1430
Hon. Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P., Co-Chair
Canada–U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-992-2406
Ms. Miriam Burke, Association Secretary
Canada–U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-944-4238