Western New York Congressman Blasts Republican Presidential Candidate’s Call For Proposal To Wall Off Canada

News from U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins

September 1^st, 2015 – In a letter today, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), co-chair of the House of Representatives’ Norther Border Caucus, criticized Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s contention that a proposal to construct a wall on the border of the United States and Canada is “a legitimate issue.”

With Peace Bridge in background, U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins discusses Canana/U.S. border crossing challenges at a 2014 media conference

Speaking on NBC’s “Meet The Press” Sunday morning, Walker said the issue was raised during a town hall meeting.

The U.S. – Canada border is the longest international border in the world at 5,525 miles long. Congressman Higgins’s Western New York District borders Southern Ontario and includes three automobile and two rail crossings between the U.S. and Canada, including the busiest automobile border crossing, the Peace Bridge.

The text of the letter is below:

Governor Walker:

I am writing to express my concern and disappointment at your contention that building a wall along our border with Canada is a legitimate idea worthy of consideration.

As a Co-Chair of the Northern Border Caucus, a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and a representative of a northern border community I can tell you that the idea that we would militarize the border with our largest trading partner and strongest ally is ludicrous.

Canada is the largest customer of American goods and services, a $354 billion export market that supports 9 million American jobs. Cross-border commerce is worth $34 billion annually to New York, sustaining 680,000 jobs in our state. The economy of Western New York is highly integrated with that of Southern Ontario, and our future depends in part on deepening that integration. 

As you are no doubt aware given that you led a trade mission to Canada on behalf of your state this summer, Canada is Wisconsin’s largest export market, importing $8 billion of Wisconsin goods annually and supporting 158,000 Wisconsin jobs. And more than 320,000 Canadians visit Wisconsin annually, adding $65 million in revenue to Wisconsin’s tourism economy. 

In 2011 the United States reached the historic Beyond the Border Action Plan with Canada, which will enhance information sharing on security matters while expediting the lawful movement of people and goods across the border. I can think of few actions more destructive to this spirit of cooperation than building a physical wall between our nations.

I respectfully suggest that rather than build a 5,525 mile wall at tremendous taxpayer expense, we should increase our investment in border infrastructure that facilitates commerce between the United States and Canada. Congress has cut funding for these investments in recent years, and I would welcome you to join our call to reverse the shortsighted and economically irrational decisions to disinvest in our border infrastructure.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Higgins has supported a number of efforts to bolster cross-border commerce and improve efficiencies between the United States and Canada, including: a bill to encourage Canadians to purchase homes in the United States, blocking a land border crossing fee, pre-inspection efforts, infrastructure investments to expand the plaza at the Peace Bridge, and the opening of a passport office in the City of Buffalo.

In addition to serving as Co-Chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus and on the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, Higgins is a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and the U.S.-Canada Interparliamentary Exchange.

Congressman Brian Higgins is a sixth term member of the United States House of Representatives serving New York’s 26th congressional district, which includes portions of Erie and Niagara Counties. For more information of Congressman Higgins click on http://higgins.house.gov/ .

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