Congresswoman Emily Randall and MP Johns Co-Host Cross-Border Leaders' Summit

Washington DC — U.S. Congresswoman Emily Randall (WA-06) and NDP Canadian Federal Member of Parliament Gord Johns (Courtenay–Alberni) co-chaired May These Gates Never Be Closed: A Cross-Border Dialogue for the Pacific Northwest, an ad-hoc gathering of local leaders from coastal British Columbia and Washington State hosted by the newly formed Collective Coast Association.

 

The meeting brought together more than a dozen mayors, First Nations chiefs, county and district chairs, along with two state representatives, Director Nguyễn of the Washington Department of Commerce, and special guest U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02), for a candid discussion about the impacts of President Trump’s escalating tariffs and inflammatory pro-annexation rhetoric.

 

“The United States has the great luck of being neighbors with Canada,” said Congresswoman Emily Randall. “Neighbors relying on each other across shared waters, cultures, and borders. Washington and British Columbia are incredibly interconnected — through our economy, our workforce, Tribes and First Nations, and the families who move between our communities every day. I was honored to Co-Chair today’s conversation alongside MP Johns about how to strengthen this partnership and make sure our communities on both sides of the Strait continue to thrive together.”

 

Local leaders on both sides of the border emphasized that the President’s decisions have created widespread uncertainty, encouraged boycotts, and caused real economic harm in closely connected communities that rely on stable, predictable cross-border relationships.

 

The Collective Coast Association—a new, community-driven organization made up of members from both countries—was established to strengthen cooperation across the Pacific Northwest. The group organized this virtual forum after witnessing the destabilizing effects of the tariff crisis and recognizing that regional leaders from both sides of the border need a space to work together constructively.

 

The event’s title, “May These Gates Never Be Closed,” comes from the inscription in the Peace Arch at the Canada-U.S. border and reflects the deep, enduring friendship between people in British Columbia and Washington State.

 

“These tariffs are being felt everywhere in my riding,” said MP Johns. “Municipalities are struggling with procurement because they don’t know what materials might be hit next. I’ll keep fighting for people in Ottawa—but this dialogue helps ensure that their concerns are heard directly in Washington, D.C., too.”

 

“The truth is simple: B.C. and Washington will always be neighbors, no matter who is in government,” said Alex Hunter, founder of the Collective Coast Association. “We can’t move our countries apart. What we can do is protect the shared values that help us move forward together.”

 

MP Johns and Rep. Randall will continue working with local communities as they navigate the ongoing uncertainty created by the tariff environment and the broader unpredictability of the Trump administration.