By Dana Gabriel
 
The North American Forum on Integration (NAFI) was created in 2002, and is one of many think tanks pushing for closer continental ties. In 2005, NAFI organized the Triumvirate, a North American model parliament which meets once a year. The exercise brings together university students from the U.S., Mexico and Canada with participants assigned the roles of legislators, journalists or lobbyists. Over the years, the mock parliament has debated and drafted resolutions on such key issues as trade corridors, immigration, NAFTA’s Chapter 11, along with the creation of a North American investment fund and a customs union. Infowars reported that last year’s Triumvirate gathering was cancelled due to the swine flu pandemic scare.

By Dana Gabriel
 
Trilateral initiatives, such as NAFTA and the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) have further advanced North American integration.  It is also at a state and provincial level that regional integration is being achieved in areas of trade, the environment and energy.
 
The 33rd Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers was held in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada on September 14-15 and was co-chaired by host Premier Shawn Graham and Maine Governor John Baldacci.  Throughout the years, the governors and premiers have forged a partnership and expanded economic ties, including cooperation on energy and environmental issues.  At each conference, policy resolutions are enacted which call on actions by the state and provincial governments, as well as by the two national governments.  The current global financial crisis has placed more focus on finding collaborative regional approaches to economic and energy issues.  The recent conference included resolutions concerning the green economy, renewable energy, climate change, energy efficiency, pandemic preparedness and open and secure trade.  Regional leaders endorsed a blueprint for the region’s energy future.