MLA for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock Glenn Van Dijken is travelling to Boston, Mass. to push for a barrier-free trade relationship between the U.S. and Alberta.
Van Dijken will travel with Angela Pitt, Airdrie-East MLA, and Chelsae Petrovic, MLA for Livingstone-Macleod, to the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) from August 2-7.
The MLAs will represent Alberta in discussions with lawmakers from across the U.S. at the conference’s 50th annual summit.
The government says MLAs will join policy sessions, meetings and network events to highlight the province as a secure and reliable energy and agricultural partner of choice and advocate for cross-border pipelines to bring more product to U.S. customers.
“Promoting increased access to U.S. markets for Alberta’s farmers, ranchers and agri-processors will be at the top of my agenda when I take my seat on this year’s NCSL Agriculture Task Force,” says Van Dijken. “Our producers put top-quality food on American tables, and I will leverage these discussions to reinforce the key role Alberta can play in establishing North American, and global, food security.”
The NCSL was established in 1975 by state legislators and legislative staff to bring together lawmakers and government leaders from all 50 U.S. states, commonwealths, territories and the District of Columbia.
The conference is intended to promote co-operation and information exchanges between state legislators in the U.S. and other countries. Alberta formalized its role in the NCSL by becoming an affiliate member of the organization and a member of its International Advisory Council last year.
Mission expenses will be posted online.
MLA itinerary:
- August 2: Travel to Boston, Mass.
- August 3: Participate in the NCSL-led international and executive committee meetings and roundtables prior to the start of the annual summit.
- August 4-6: Participate in meetings and roundtables at the NCSL annual summit, including a gathering of the NCSL Agriculture Task Force and a session titled “Building Bridges: 50 Years of NCSL’s Global Partnerships.” Then, host key U.S. decision makers at an Alberta government reception.
- August 7: Return to Alberta.
This itinerary is subject to change.
