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Members of the Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group Attend Meeting of Southern US Governors From August 27-30, 2010, Mr. Rick Dykstra, M.P., Vice-Chair, led a delegation of members of the Canadian Section of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG) to the Annual Meeting of the Southern Governors’ Association (SGA) in Birmingham, Alabama. Other members of the delegation were Mr. Michel Guimond, M.P. and Mr. Dave Van Kesteren, M.P. Governors Riley (Alabama), Perdue (North Carolina), Barbour (Mississippi), Bredesen (Tennessee), McDonnell (Virginia) and Nixon (Missouri) attended the meeting. “Canada and the 16 Southern Governors’ Association states share an incredible trading relationship, including 11 of the 16 states who register Canada as their primary export market. Specifically, more that 2.6 million jobs in those states rely on our trade partnership. Now, more than ever, our two countries must work together to expand and strengthen our trading relationships,” said Mr. Dykstra. Mr. Dykstra concluded: “It was an honour to lead our delegation in Alabama, and to drive our message with Governor after Governor regarding the importance of our bilateral relationship. Governor Bev Perdue of North Carolina will serve as the Southern Governors’ Association Chair for the coming year. She committed to our delegation that next year’s meeting, which will focus on ‘Innovation,’ will include Canada as partner at the conference. Governor Purdue can be assured, we will come prepared!” 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 southern US 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 US 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 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. -30- For
further information: US STATES IN THE SOUTHERN GOVERNORS’ ASSOCIATION Alabama
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