Bellingham council in Washington State has sent a letter to Langley and several other nearby B.C. border communities that affirms "a commitment to continuing a positive relationship" as visits by Canadians to America plummet in response to U.S. tariffs and president Trump's talk of making Canada a "51st state."
It was the idea of Councillor Michael Lilliquist, who told council it was meant as "a more personal message to fellow jurisdictions, kind of just renewing, at a more cultural and personal level, that we're still your neighbours, we still value you, we still want to work with you."
It was not a comment on the 51st state notion, Lilliquist told the Langley Advance Times.
"I don鈥檛 believe anyone was thinking about [the] 51st state idea. Truthfully, the intent was to not get political, but to focus on social, cultural, and economic ties."
As approved by Bellingham council on Monday, May 19, the letter does not directly refer to the Trump statements, but does say the Washington State city of 95,000, located 34 kilometres south of the B.C. crossings in Abbotsford, Aldergrove and Surrey, "lies close to the world鈥檚 longest peaceful border between sovereign nations."
"We wish to express our commitment to our connection with the people of Canada and our deep-rooted social, cultural, and economic ties," the letter continues. "It is our hope that our futures will be interwoven with trust and mutual respect, as our histories have been."
Cross-border travel between B.C. and Washington State is down about a third at the Bellingham and Sumas border crossings, according to the latest figures for ground travel over the May long weekend.
"We believe that a peaceful partnership that has lasted for nearly two centuries can endure," the Bellingham letter concludes.
"Now, as always, we extend our hand in friendship."
It was to be sent to council in Delta, Richmond, White Rock, Abbotsford, Langley, Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam, and Burnaby.
Bellingham's Lilliquist called it "a small thing we can do. It's symbolic, but I think, importantly symbolic."
The Bellingham message comes after the Washington state legislature passed a resolution in April reaffirming the longstanding relationship between Washington and Canada.
It thanked Washington's Canadian neighbours "for providing aid to Washington State in times of crisis, lending supplies and volunteers during the Nooksack floods, sending water bombers to combat wildfires, and allowing stranded passengers and planes to take refuge on Sept. 11, 2001."
