The MSU Canadian Studies Center will host its Fall 2024 CN Forum, “Beyond the Gordie Howe Bridge: Reimagining Trade and Commerce for a New Age,” on Friday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MSU Henry Center for Executive Development (3535 Forest Rd. Lansing, MI 48910). The event will highlight the importance of U.S.-Canada and Michigan-Canada relations in trade, economics, policy, and cultural relations. 

Featured speakers include Heather Grondin, chief relations officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority; Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist; Michigan Rep. Amos O’Nea (49th House District); and Michigan Sen. Roger Victory (31st Senate District).

As the forum’s title suggests, speakers will discuss the importance of the Gordie Howe International Bridge; what they envision for US-Canada and Michigan-Canada relations; and what governments, businesses, and academic leaders on both sides of the border must do to maximize trade and commerce.  

Facts about the Gordie Howe International Bridge and Michigan-Canada Trade Relations:
•    Construction of the bridge began in 2018 and is expected to finish next year. The Bridge, which will be owned by the government of Canada as part of a public-private partnership, augments existing Windsor-Detroit border crossings, the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, which are both privately owned. 
•    The Windsor-Detroit border is the busiest international border crossing in North America, with over US$320 million worth of goods crossing the border every day. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will expand and streamline U.S.-Canada trade.
•    Canada is Michigan’s number one international trading partner. Michigan exports over US$20 billion worth of goods to Canada annually and nearly US$2 billion in services. Likewise, Michigan imports nearly US$40 billion in goods from Canada, including US$10 billion of automobiles. 
•    Nearly 450 Canadian-owned businesses employ over 30,000 workers in Michigan.

“Trade and positive relationships with Canada are essential to Michigan’s success,” said Rebecca Malouin, director of the MSU Canadian Studies Center. “The MSU Canadian Studies Center is excited to highlight this important relationship with the MSU community and with regional stakeholders on both sides of the border.” 

The MSU Canadian Studies Center is the longest-serving university center for the study of Canada in the US. It boasts over 140 MSU core faculty members and flagship initiatives such as Canada Connect and the Midwest Canadian Studies Network. The event is co-sponsored with Canadian National Railway (CN), Broad College of Business, James Madison College, MSU Mobility, MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, and the Canada-United States Business Association.