Report

From September 16 to 19, 2025, Senator Michael MacDonald, Co-Chair of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, and Ziad Aboultaif, Member of Parliament, attended the Council of State Governments (CSG) Western Annual Meeting in Jackson, Wyoming.

OBJECTIVES OF THE CANADA UNITED-STATES INTER-PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

The 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. Members of the Group’s Canadian Section meet regularly with their U.S. federal counterparts and also attend meetings of state legislators.

CSG WEST

CSG West serves the legislatures of 13 western U.S. states, namely Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Alberta and British Columbia are associate members. The annual meetings primarily rotate among the various CSG West member states.

CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES

The 2025 CSG Western Annual Meeting offered numerous panels and in-depth discussions on different public policy issues affecting member states. The section below describes selected panels focused on cross-border issues, as well as the Team Canada reception.

Environment and wildlife

Several panels touched on cross-border themes between member states and provinces, such as the risks associated with the increasing number of wildfires in the region. In one panel, From Ashes to Action: Managing Wildfire Risk in the West, the CSG West Wildfires and Disaster Preparedness Committee overviewed the complexities of risk prevention across lands that are privately and publicly owned, and how agencies can best respond given such challenges.

Similarly, a policy tour titled Empowering Migrations: Wildfire Crossings, Fish Passage & Infrastructure Funding explored innovative, cross-jurisdictional approaches to protecting migratory routes and sustaining healthy ecosystems throughout the northwest of the continent. The tour spotlit data-driven tools, public-private partnerships, and legislative strategies supporting wildlife connectivity.

Energy

Several sessions explored the importance of meeting growing energy needs and climate goals through the west. A forum titled The Future of Nuclear Energy in the West, hosted by the CSG West Chairs, overviewed recent legislative and federal actions to support the growth of nuclear power, while also addressing public concerns about plant safety and waste storage

Trade and tariffs

The Westrends Board, a CSG committee dedicated to evaluating evolving trends related to the quality of life in the West, organized a session on the impact of tariffs on state economies and the associated costs to local businesses. The session focused on the compounding costs related to goods that cross the Canada-U.S. border multiple times during production, resulting in added costs for the producer and consumer.

Aviation

In a sponsored session titled Fueling the Future: Advancing Sustainable Aviation Fuel Through State Policy, industry leaders from Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines described how private-public partnerships and state support can accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel, and the potential positive impact that could have on cleaner skis, as well as a more sustainable future for aviation.

Team Canada Reception

The Consulate General of Denver hosted a well-attended reception the evening of September 17 for conference participants. Senator MacDonald and MP Aboultaif delivered remarks related to the importance of the Canada-U.S. relationship and other key points.

Travel Expenses

Travel expenses associated with this activity can be found in the delegation’s financial report. This report is available in the Financial Disclosure section of the Parliamentary Diplomacy website.

Respectfully submitted,