In Rapid City, South Dakota during a meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference, its members formally requested that Canada and the US open their borders.
The move highlights that at least some of Canada’s neighbours to the south are as frustrated as many Canadians over the continued border closure, which is currently set to expire 21JUL but is widely expected to be renewed for another month as it has been throughout the pandemic.
The MLC is made up of legislators from 11 states in the US Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin -- as well as the provinces of Saskatchewan. Alberta, Ontario and Quebec which are affiliate members. No Canadian members were present during this meeting due to restrictions. Nonetheless, the Maple Leaf flag was on display, Canada’s national anthem was sung, and Canada was mentioned during prayers.
"The Midwestern Legislative Conference does hereby request that the United States and Canadian federal governments fully reopen the border to all fully vaccinated individuals immediately,” their resolution reads.
"It's significant because of the broad reach, if you just look at the map of the country and who these folks represent. It's significant because it is bipartisan; it's leadership from all of these state governments. And it is a validation of how important this Canada-U.S. relationship is, and what is at stake economically if we continue to keep the border closed,” Scotty Greenwood, the CEO of the Canadian American Business Council told the Canadian Press.
Greenwood also said that the resolution was not pre-planned and was instead created organically - and passed unanimously.
The resolution describes the relationship as the most prosperous in the world, amounting to more than a trillion dollars in trade and investment each year, but one that depends on the "efficient movement of people, goods and services" to function properly.
