From February 26-27, 2013, Senator Janis G.
Johnson, Co-Chair and Mr. Gord Brown, M.P., Co-Chair of the Canadian Section of
the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG) led six of their
colleagues in meetings with members of the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives, as well as their staff (see the Appendix). These meetings were
held following the Canadian Section’s attendance at the winter meeting of the
National Governors Association (NGA) in Washington, D.C.
Other members of the Canadian delegation were
Senators Jean-Guy Dagenais, Terry M. Mercer and Wilfred Moore, Q.C.,
Vice-Chair, the Honourable Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P., Vice-Chair, Mr. Mark
Adler, M.P. and Mr. Brian Masse, M.P., Vice-Chair. The delegation was
accompanied by Ms. Angela Crandall, the Canadian Section’s Executive Secretary,
and Ms. June Dewetering, Senior Advisor to the Canadian Section.
THE EVENT AND DELEGATION OBJECTIVES
During their meetings with U.S. Senators and
members of the House of Representatives, Canadian parliamentarians focused on a
range of issues that are thought to be important to the Canada-U.S.
relationship, as outlined below. The meetings were similar in intent to
previous U.S. Congressional meetings in respect of such issues as bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), trade in softwood lumber, “Buy American”
provisions, energy and border issues, including the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative.
Congressional meetings enable members of the
Canadian Section to meet with U.S. federal legislators, particularly those who
do not attend the IPG’s annual meeting, and thereby to inform them about – and
gain their support on – critical issues affecting both countries. More
generally, members of the Canadian Section believe that Congressional meetings
are an invaluable opportunity to share Canadian views about bilateral issues of
common concern, and they intend to undertake such meetings in the future as the
need arises.
Since the meetings with U.S. federal legislators
are designed to be “off the record,” the discussion below summarizes the
general nature of the issues that were raised by Canadian and American
legislators.
ISSUES RAISED BY THE CANADIAN SECTION OF THE
CANADA-UNITED STATES INTER-PARLIAMENTARY GROUP
History and Mission of the Canada-United States
Inter-Parliamentary Group
·The IPG was formed more than 50 years ago.
·The IPG aims to find points of convergence in
Canadian and American 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.
·One means by which the IPG attains its goals is
through an annual meeting at which federal legislators from both Canada and the
United States participate.
·In addition to an annual meeting, the Canadian
Section of the IPG attends national and regional meetings of governors and
state legislators.
The Bilateral Trade Relationship and the Shared
Border
·Canada and the United States have the largest
bilateral trade relationship in the world, and the nations and their
inhabitants are important to each other for additional reasons as well.
·At least 70% of U.S. states have Canada as their
primary foreign export destination.
·An estimated 8 million U.S. jobs depend on trade
with Canada.
·A seamless, yet secure, shared border helps to
ensure the prosperity of both countries.
·Progress is being made regarding a new
international crossing at Detroit-Windsor, and the presidential permit was an
important development in this regard, as was the funding provided by Canada’s
federal government.
·The border that the United States shares with
Canada differs, in fundamental ways, from the border that it shares with
Mexico; the differences between the United States’ two shared borders mean that
different policies, practices, etc. are required at the two borders.
·Since the terrorist attacks on 11 September
2001, security requirements have led to a “thickening” of the shared border;
“thickening” makes both countries less competitive.
·The movement of goods and people across the
shared border is facilitated by such measures as NEXUS and FAST.
·Cross-border tourism falls when the documentary
requirements associated with crossing the border rise.
·Inconsistent regulations between the two
countries can increase costs and have other negative consequences.
·Border-related fees affect the competitiveness
of integrated companies.
·“Buy American” provisions are a trade barrier;
with provisions such as these, Canada may be “collateral damage.”
·The United States’ mandatory country-of-origin labelling
requirements are harming both Canada and the United States, and are
inconsistent with a North American livestock market.
Energy
·Energy trade between the countries is
significant in value and volume.
·Canada is the most stable and reliable supplier
of a range of energy sources to the United States, and the United States should
prefer Canadian oil to Venezuelan or Middle Eastern oil.
·For energy security and other reasons, it is
important that the Keystone XL pipeline application is approved; failure to
approve the application would harm the bilateral relationship.
·The Keystone XL pipeline application is the
“victim” of environmental politics in the United States.
·Ongoing efforts are directed to improving the
“environmental record” of Canada’s oil sands.
ISSUES RAISED BY U.S. SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Energy
·The proposed Keystone XL pipeline is important
to meeting the energy needs of the United States.
·What is occurring in the United States in
relation to the Keystone XL pipeline application is related to environmental
politics, not scientific or economic considerations; after all, there are
already a great many pipelines between Canada and the United States, as well as
within each country.
·The “tar” sands are a “geological miracle.”
Trade and Economic Prosperity
·There is much that the United States could learn
from Canada regarding “economic measures.”
·“Buy American” provisions are not always
directed toward Canada.
·In the context of the twin pillars of security
and trade, it is important to recognize that homeland security is important and
that “bad actors” cross the border in each direction; that said, there is a
need to facilitate bilateral trade.
·The U.S. Midwest would be less strong “if Canada
did not exist.”
·Some American exports destined for Europe
transit through the Port of Montreal.
·Delays and problems at the border shared by the
United States and Mexico are linked to Mexican politics.
·There should be more pre-clearance agreements
reached by Canada and the United States.
·With “just-in-time” inventory systems, it is
important that the shared border function smoothly.
·There is some concern about whether there is
adequate funding to implement the measures included in the Beyond the Border
Action Plan.
Prescription Drugs
·A number of Americans continue to cross the
shared border, physically or electronically, to purchase prescription drugs.
Respectfully submitted,
Hon. Janis G. Johnson,
Senator, Co-Chair
Canada-United States
Inter-Parliamentary Group
Gord Brown, M.P.,
Co-Chair Canada-United States
Inter-Parliamentary Group