Ottawa - Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville says talks with United States congressmen and senators this week helped cement Canada’s relationships with the US government.

“For the past seven days, eight Members of Parliament and Senators met with their counterparts in the United States and discussed issues as diverse as trade, the border, Afghanistan, the 2010 Olympics, energy and security,” explains Brown.

The delegation participated in a seminar on Tuesday, February 24 offered by the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) entitled "Countdown to the 2010 Olympics: Border Challenges, Regional Solutions".

To conclude the week, on Wednesday and Thursday, the delegation met with Congressional colleagues on key issues.

“During our meetings, we underlined the fact that the Canada-U.S. partnership is deep and diverse. The countries share political, economic and social ties, a common border that stretches across five thousand miles, and many values and interests as neighbours and friends,” notes Brown.

“Our two-way trading relationship is the largest in the world. Canada and the United States have a long tradition of cooperation in defending our continent, and stewardship of a rich and diverse environment. Both countries share a commitment to a safe and secure border and work closely to ensure that the border remains open to tourism and trade and closed to threats,” he adds.

The Canadian delegates discussed the Buy American provision in the US stimulus package.

“We are encouraged that the wording was altered to reflect long-standing trade agreements but we will be monitoring the situation,” says Brown.

Some $1.9 billion worth of goods and services crosses the border each day providing hundreds of thousands of Canadian jobs and 7.1 million American jobs.

Similarly delegates conveyed the message that Canada remains committed to the success of the softwood lumber agreement.

They also discussed Country Of Origin Labeling and methods to make this effort work for Canadian producers.

Delegates pointed out Canada is in Afghanistan to help Afghans rebuild their country as a stable, democratic and self-sufficient society. Current Canadian Forces contribution on the ground in Afghanistan stands at more than 2,800 personnel and Canada’s military mission will continue until July 2011.

“Canada is among the top bilateral donors in Afghanistan and Afghanistan is Canada’s single largest development program,” Brown explains.
The bi-lateral discussions also focused on energy cooperation and tackling climate change. Canada supplies nine per cent of the US energy demand.

“Finally, we noted that good management of the border is key to our economic prosperity. Each day, more than 300,000 people and 20,000 commercial trucks cross the Canada–U.S. border. Our two countries need to work closely to facilitate the smooth flow of legitimate travelers and goods and to ensure the collective security of both countries by identifying security threats and subverting criminals and terrorists,” says Brown.

Canada has been working closely with the U.S. government to ensure that legitimate trade and travel across our borders are not disrupted as a result of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Brown also met with Congressman John McHugh and among other items discussed water levels on the St. Lawrence River.