THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay Superior North MP Patty Hajdu has been chosen to participate in a trade mission to Wisconsin that will aim to remind state officials how tightly the Canadian and US economies are linked.
Hajdu made the announcement Thursday morning in a speech that followed up last week's federal budget release.
"This is really about working with the new administration at all levels, making sure state level legislators and legislators understand just how valuable Canada is as a partner," she said.
"Wisconsin does a lot of trade with Canada. We're their primary customer actually."
Over the April trip, Hajdu will highlight how trade intertwines the economy over national borders, including the energy sector and particularly Wisconsin's celebrated cheese industry. Montreal's Saputo Cheese, for example, has a Wisconsin operations that employ 1,000 workers in the state.
New American President Donald Trump discussed renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement before he was elected, the primary document that has governed Canada's trade relationship with the United States and Mexico since 1994.
As Canada's Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Hajdu is hoping to share the value of that open trade border with Wisconsin state officials.
"The new administration is talking about things like NAFTA and we want to make sure those conversations go well. So far, we're very confident and we have a lot of optimism but we feel it's very important those bonds are strengthened."
