MPs to promote Canada’s economy in the US as new budget is tabled

OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau is getting ready to unveil details of his second budget next Wednesday. And as that is tabled in the House of Commons, about one dozen Canadian MPs and senators will be in the US for three days of meetings with more than 70 US lawmakers to push Canada’s economic interests.

Liberal MP Wayne Easter is the chair of the Canada-US interparliamentary group. He says the trip wasn’t planned around the budget date but it’s a prime opportunity to discuss the economic plans of both countries.

While trade, softwood lumber, buying American policies and border issues will be priorities, he adds there will be more targeted in talks with senators and congressmen of northern states. “Canadian businesses that do jobs in their district, [we’ll look at] what commodities or goods or services that we trade.”

He explains they’ll also be driving home the need for an open border. “If their economy does well, ours does better. If our economy does well, theirs does better.”

Easter says they’ve been making progress but still face challenges on important issues, and the government doesn’t want to take its foot off the gas pedal when dealing with US lawmakers.

The federal budget will come down on March 22nd and NEWS 1130 will have extensive coverage both on-air and online.

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