CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS DELIVER REMARKS AT THE WASHINGTON MEETING OF THE CAN/AM BORDER TRADE ALLIANCE

On October 3^rd 2011, Mr. Gord Brown, M.P., Co-Chair, and the Honourable Michael L. MacDonald, Senator, Vice-Chair, delivered remarks on behalf of the Canadian Section of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group at the annual fall meeting of the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance (BTA) in Washington, D.C..

“I was very pleased to be able to share information with meeting participants about the activities of the Canadian Section since I last had the opportunity to speak to the group at the spring meeting in Ottawa. It’s always a pleasure to share the news about the important activities of the Canadian Section as we advocate with U.S. governors as well as federal and state legislators on behalf of Canadians. Of course, it’s also interesting for me to hear about border-, trade- and tourism-related challenges faced on a daily basis by those who attend the BTA meetings,” said Gord Brown.

Senator MacDonald concluded: “As a first-time attendee at a BTA meeting, I was both happy to share thoughts about the Canadian Section’s planned activities and priorities in the next few months as well as to be introduced to the group and its participants. I learned a great deal from my conversations with them and from the presentations at the meetings, and I look forward to participating at future meetings.”

The Can/Am Border Trade Alliance (BTA) holds two meetings each year: in the spring in Ottawa and in the fall in Washington, D.C. The BTA is a coalition of businesses, public-sector organizations and individuals with an interest in bilateral trade and tourism. Its mission is to maximize commercial activity and ensure continued growth in cross-border trade as well as efficient and productive border-crossing capabilities.

It should be noted that the views expressed in this news release are specific to the Canadian Section of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group and, as such, may not reflect the views of our United States 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
Mr. Gord Brown, M.P., Co-Chair

Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-992-8756
Ms. Angela Crandall, Association Secretary

Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-944-4238