Midwest-Canada Relations
Created in 1991, the Midwestern Legislative Conference Midwest-Canada Relations Committee provides a forum for state and provincial legislators to exchange information and ideas of mutual interest in both countries. Additionally, the committee ensures that the perspective of state and provincial legislators is presented to federal officials and provides a cross-border forum for dialogue and information sharing. To that end, it occasionally organizes legislative exchanges between state and provincial legislators.
The committee is made up of legislators from from the 11 Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces that are part of CSG’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. The committee’s composition changes every biennium, with appointments made by legislative appointing authorities and leaders of the MLC.
The MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee met and led sessions in conjunction with the MLC Annual Meeting, which was held July 27-30 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. On the day’s first meeting, the committee considered and passed a resolution on North American energy, focusing on the importance of continuing the free flow of energy products between Canada and the United States. The resolution also voices support for the use of domestic sources of energy, both renewable and nonrenewable. The resolution ultimately was approved by the full MLC on July 29 during its business session in Saskatoon.
Summary of recent work and activities
In 2023-2024, the MLC’s Midwest-Canada Relations Committee was led by Manitoba MLA Kelvin Goertzen and Michigan Rep. Amos O’Neal, co-chairs; and Ontario MPP Ernie Hardeman and North Dakota Rep. David Monson, co-vice chairs. During the 2023-2024 biennium, the committee:
- hosted an in-person policy workshop for legislators that focused on deepening their understanding of the importance of critical minerals to the region and the role of public policy;
- planned legislative exchanges of Ontario lawmakers to Lansing, Mich., and MLC leadership to Edmonton, Alberta;
- organized in-person meetings on topics such as U.S.-Canada federal relations and their importance to the Midwest and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and purchasing incentives in the U.S. and Canada;
- led a tour of 2023 MLC Annual Meeting attendees to see border operations in Detroit and Windsor, Ontario;
- held webinars for legislators that highlighted the work of the Alberta Ministry of Indigenous Relations and that explored Indigenous Treaty Law in the U.S. and Canada; and
- initiated MLC resolutions calling on U.S. Customs and Border Protection to expand hours of operation at several ports of entry and calling for an 18-month delay at the U.S. northern land border regarding a rule that imposed new requirements on people entering the U.S. from abroad with a dog.
Resources from 2024 committee meeting in Columbus
The MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee meets at least once a year as part of the MLC Annual Meeting, most recently in Columbus in 2024 and Detroit in 2023. Below are links to resources, including presentations, from the 2024 meeting in Columbus.
- “Electric Vehicle Transformation: Successes & Struggles” | Neal Osten, Executive Director, The Institute for State Policy Leaders
- “Midwest on the Move: Legislative Strategies to Boost Electric Vehicle Adaptation” | Matt Stephens-Rich, Director, Electrification Coalition
- Stateline Midwest article on “At a ‘Crossroads’: Legislators Explore Binational Push for Electric Vehicles, Potential Impact of EVs in Region”
- Agenda
In conjunction with the 79th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference in Saskatoon, Sask., the MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee will meet and lead policy sessions for participating legislators and other attendees.
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The Midwest-Canada Relations Committee and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus invited state and provincial legislators, as well as…
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The Midwest's state and provincial legislators were invited to this workshop, which aimed to deepen their understanding of the importance of critical minerals to the region and the role of public policy. The event was held Nov. 14-15 in Chicago. Participating legislators were eligible for a travel scholarship.
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The MLC Midwest-Canada Relations Committee last met and led sessions at the 2024 Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual…
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This webinar explored some of the new initiatives and outreach efforts being pursued by Alberta's Ministry of Indigenous Relations, including the province's work on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People, as well as efforts to protect and return Indigenous remains and property.
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