In advance of a bilateral meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) is urging the leaders to refocus on strengthening the bond between the border countries.
Higgins said, “In recent decades events ranging from the terrorist attacks on September 11th to the health complications of the COVID pandemic have forced both physical and opportunity barriers between the United States and Canada. As we’ve moved on, we’ve seen a layering rather than a loosening of policies that constrict rather than grow a meaningful melding of our people and economies. It is advantageous for both countries to take a fresh look at where things stand and reimagine how to, once again, make a good relationship great.”
Congressman Higgins’ Western New York district, which includes the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, borders Southern Ontario. Higgins has been critical of disjointed border policies during the pandemic, fought to reopen the border to recreational travel, leads efforts to improve trade and tourism, pushed for adequate staffing levels at border crossings, opposed the 1% tax imposed on non-Canadian property owners, continues to advocate for the streamlining of cross-border passenger rail, and is urging efforts to reduce the NEXUS backlog.
Rep. Higgins serves as co-chair of the binational Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group and the bipartisan Congressional Northern Border Caucus.
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