CSG Midwest helps bring together Michigan, Ontario lawmakers for legislative exchange
In two recent legislative exchanges, members of the Ontario and Michigan legislatures have had the opportunity to deepen binational relations while learning about the legislative process in a neighboring state or province.
The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference helped facilitate the most recent exchange. Led by Ontario Speaker Ted Arnott, a delegation of members of the Provincial Parliament traveled to Lansing in February for a series of meetings, including with Michigan Speaker of the House Joe Tate, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt.
The Ontario delegation also sat in on legislative sessions and attended the Michigan Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting, which included an update on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. Once complete, the bridge will provide another binational crossing in the Detroit-Windsor region.
CSG Midwest staff worked with the offices of Speaker Tate, Michigan Rep. Amos O’Neal and Michigan Sen. Roger Victory (the MLC’s immediate past chair), as well as the Ontario Legislative Protocol Office, on the event.
In late 2023, a delegation of Michigan legislators led by Speaker Tate traveled to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Toronto.
About the MLC
The MLC is a nonpartisan association of all legislators representing 11 states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are MLC affiliate members.
The MLC’s Midwest-Canada Relations Committee provides a regular forum for cross-border policy dialogue and collaboration among legislators from the region’s 11 states and four provinces. The committee will next meet during the MLC’s 78th Annual Meeting on July 21-24 in Columbus, Ohio.
Pictured at the Michigan Capitol, from left to right: Michigan Rep. Amos O’Neal; Eric Rennie, manager of Protocol and Visitor Services, Legislative Assembly of Ontario; Rachel Nauta, executive assistant, Office of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario; Ontario MPP Bobbi Ann Brady; Tina Gates, constituency assistant for MPP Brady; Michigan Sen. Roger Victory, MLC immediate past chair; Ontario MPP Ernie Hardeman; Lisa Arnott, spouse of the Hon. Ted Arnott; Ontario Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Ted Arnott; Rachael Johnston, district director for Sen. Victory; Mitch Arvidson, CSG Midwest staff liaison for the MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee; and Martin Johnston, legislative director for Sen. Victory.