NEWS RELEASE

CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING OF MIDWESTERN STATE LEGISLATORS

From 21–24 July 2019, the Honourable Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P., Co-Chair of the Canadian Section of the Canada–United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG), led a delegation to the 74^th annual meeting of the Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC) in Chicago, Illinois. The other members of the delegation were the Honourable Senator Jane Cordy, IPG Vice-Chair, Honourable Senators Robert Black and Victor Oh as well as Randeep Sarai, M.P.

“I was very pleased to lead a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians to the MLC’s annual meeting” said Mr. Easter. “This event allows members of the Canadian Section of the Canada–United States IPG to meet with legislators from the midwestern states and provinces to discuss policy issues in a non-partisan setting. The policy sessions on criminal justice reform, renewable energy, workforce development, and Saskatchewan’s approach to disaster insurance to help farmers, businesses and communities were among those that were extremely beneficial for both Canadian and American legislators to attend.”

Senator Cordy added: “The IPG’s Canadian Section is always interested in attending policy sessions of the MLC’s Midwest–Canada Relations Committee, which focus on the relationship between our two countries. This year’s sessions allowed us to have valuable discussions about the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement as well as the impact of tariffs and trade agreements on states, provinces and local communities. These conversations among legislators are critical as we continue to work together on such important issues.”

Mr. Easter concluded: “The Canadian Section of the Canada–United States IPG would also like to congratulate the province of Saskatchewan on becoming an official member of the Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference”.

The MLC is a regional association of legislators from 11 U.S. states and affiliated Canadian provinces. The purpose of the MLC is to foster regional intergovernmental cooperation in the U.S. Midwest through the joint consideration of common problems, the interchange of information and ideas, the sharing of knowledge and experience and, as appropriate, the pursuit of collaborative efforts to improve state government. Information about the MLC is available at www.csgmidwest.org.

The views expressed in this news release are specific to the Canadian Section of the Canada–United States IPG. For this reason, they may not reflect the views of U.S. counterparts.

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 IPG can be found at www.parl.gc.ca/iia/us.

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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

Ms. Miriam Burke, Association Secretary
Canada–U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-944-4238