Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré is currently in Boston, Massachusetts to participate in the National Conference of State Legislators as a representative of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group.
He said in a press release that attending the National Conference of State Legislators from Aug. 6-9 is an important opportunity to meet with US state lawmakers and reinforce the critical importance of the Canada-United States trade relationship, discuss new and existing opportunities to grow trade between Northern Ontario and American states & territories, and defend Northern Ontario’s shared economic interests with the US from protectionist economic policy.
“I look forward to meeting with state legislators from across the US and to highlight and reinforce the close relationship that Canada shares with the United States,” he said.
“Our countries share a $1.4 trillion trade and investment relationship, and trade between Canada and the US generated US $635 billion of economic activity between our borders in 2016 alone.
“Put another way, that’s $1.7 billion worth of goods and services crossing our borders every day that provide millions of good-paying jobs to both Canadians and Americans, so it is critical for Canada and the US to maintain free and open trade to ensure that both our economies keep growing.”
He said one of his biggest priorities while at the conference will be to emphasize how protectionist policies will harm the economic partnership between the two countries.
“While advocating for Canada and Northern Ontario’s economic interests is my number one priority, I am also looking forward to discussing Canada and the United States’ relationship as it relates to security at the Canada-US border, domestic and international defence cooperation, energy security and independence, protecting the environment, and addressing climate change, just to name a few,” Serré said.
