View From the Legislature

Learning Lessons on Border Trade

  • Kelvin Goertzen, Author
  • Member of the Legislative Assembly, Steinbach

For the past several years I have had the opportunity and pleasure to be elected as the co-chair for the U.S. Midwest-Canada Relations Committee. During that time, I have served with many U.S. and Canadian lawmakers dedicated to ensuring that the remarkable and enduring trade relationship between our two countries remains strong and improves.

Over those years, there have been many difficult circumstances that have had to be faced that resulted in disagreement. Country of Origin Labelling disputes, concerns over trade barriers, the reworking of the free trade agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico and issues of security have been just a few of those difficult issues. And while those certainly posed challenges, the partnership between Canada and the United States as it relates to trade has remained strong and grown.

The past two years has caused a whole different challenge that could not have been anticipated. With travel significantly limited and heath recommendations and restrictions varying not only between countries but between provinces and states, there was significant risk of trade disruption. And, without question, supply chains have been challenged and there have been disruptions along the way. But, while recreational travel between our two nations dropped by up to 90% at points during the pandemic, the volume of truck traffic at borders like Pembina and Windsor remained largely unchanged and at times exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

While this is a credit to the strong and interconnected trade system that has been established between our two countries, where we don’t simply trade with each other but build things together, there are still many lessons to be learned from the past two years even as traditional trade and travel patterns begin to return.

While members of the U.S. Midwest-Canada Relations Committee have continued to meet over the past two years, we have been unable to do so in person. This week marked the first time that committee members have been able to meet face to face to discuss cross border issues. Earlier this week I was in Wichita, Kansas to lead, together with my follow co-chair Speaker Robert Cupp from Ohio and Vice Chair Senator Jim Stamas from Michigan, two days of meetings related to reenergizing cross border trade and issues related to security, including concerns over human trafficking.

The relationship between Canada and the United States is one of the strongest cross border partnerships in the entire world. While it is often tested, including during the past two years, we continue to learn lessons and to work to make it stronger. The past few days of in person meetings with fellow committee members has again reminded me that for all the challenges and differences that we may have, we continue to be bound by a common history and mutually beneficial relationship. I look forward to continuing to work with members of the U.S. Midwest-Canada Relations Committee on matters that serve our mutual interests as partners, neighbours, and friends.