New York State Assemblyman Billy Jones of Plattsburgh, representing Assembly District 115, has been appointed to serve as co-chair of The Council of State Governments’ Eastern Regional Conference’s (CSG East) Canada–U.S. Relations Committee through 2022. He will serve with Canadian Co-chair Guy Ouellette, a member of the National Assembly of Québec.

“As co-chair of the CSG East Canada--U.S. Relations Committee, I look forward to working with my regional colleagues on key policy initiatives to enhance cooperation on issues of mutual concern with Canada, particularly on trade, transportation, and the effective management of the shared border,” said Assemblyman Jones, who in addition to his legislative duties serves as the honorary Co-Chair of the Quebec-New York Corridor Coalition and a former member of the North Country Economic Development Council, where he has supported numerous projects that help local businesses grow the region’s economy.

“Working with my legislative colleagues in the U.S. Northeast and Eastern Canada gives me and my committee members a unique networking opportunity to share ideas and insights with my counterparts from throughout the Eastern region and bring best practices and resources to my constituents.”

“This is a real opportunity for the North Country, and an appropriate recognition of Billy's knowledge of and commitment to U.S.-Canada relations,” says Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “The Eastern Council includes both U.S. states and Canadian provinces, including Quebec, and has long been not only a valuable forum for building relationships but a source of policy development. We thank Billy for his continuing dedication to our region's bi-national interests, which have clearly earned the respect of his colleagues, and we know his leadership in this position will help to bring new forms of collaboration and shared benefit.”

CSG is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization serving all three branches of state government and is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. CSG’s Eastern office has been in New York City since 1937, serving the legislative, executive, and judicial branch officials in 11 Northeastern states, as well as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the eastern Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Québec.

Its mission is to promote successful state policy innovations, forge multi-jurisdictional problem solving, advocate for regional interests at the federal level, offer leadership training and technical assistance, and forecast policy trends that affect the ERC region.

CSG East’s policy staff supports the three branches of state government through nine areas of special concern to the region. These include agriculture, criminal justice, education, energy and environment, fiscal affairs, health, territorial relations, transportation, and U.S.–Canada relations.

For more information on CSG East’s policy areas, and to access its publications and meeting information, please visit www.csg-erc.org.