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CANADIAN FEDERAL PARLIAMENTARIAN ATTENDS MEETING OF U.S. SOUTHERN GOVERNORS From August 19-21, 2011, Mr. Rick Dykstra, M.P., Vice-Chair of the Canadian Section of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, attended the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Southern Governors’ Association (SGA) in Asheville, North Carolina. Mr. Dykstra said: “It is always a pleasure to attend the SGA meetings. The U.S. South is relatively distant from Canada, and the annual meeting provides an unparalleled opportunity for Canadians to learn about the issues that are priorities in this region of the United States. Certainly, it also allows the identification of areas in which closer relationships can be developed between Canada and the United States, including the U.S. South. The major theme for the meeting this year was innovation, and this area is among those where I believe we are doing a great deal, but could be doing much more.” “Canada and the 16 SGA states have a relationship that is mutually beneficial. According to recent figures, about 3 million jobs in those states rely on our bilateral trade, which was valued at approximately US$106 billion in one year: about US$55 billion was exported from the 16 states to Canada, while they imported approximately $51 billion from us. We are also frequent visitors. In a recent 12-month period, Canadians made more than 6.5 million visits to the SGA states and spent more than US$4 billion, while residents of those states made approximately 1.9 million visits to Canada and spent about $1.2 billion,” concluded Mr. Dykstra. Founded in 1934, the Southern Governors’ Association is the oldest of the regional governors’ associations and has a long history of promoting the common interests of the Governors of the 16 U.S. southern states (see the Appendix). The SGA provides a bipartisan forum in which to help shape and implement national policy as well as to solve regional problems, improve the quality of life of residents of the U.S. South, and secure an economically vibrant and prosperous American South. 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 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. -30- For further information: Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group -
613-943-1430 Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group -
613-992-8756 Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-944-4238 APPENDIX: U.S. STATES IN THE SOUTHERN GOVERNORS’ ASSOCIATION Alabama |
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