Legislature looks at our northern neighbors and medical students

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - On Tuesday, the Capitol was busy with neighboring and local visitors.

Legislators welcomed discussions on the floor of the Capitol that included strengthening Northern trade relations and ensuring all Wyomingites have access to health care.

”The commercial and economic relationship with our two countries always goes up year after year. Sometimes there are little blips like during the pandemic, but you know the extent of our bilateral commercial and economic relationship is immense. No two countries anywhere in the world enjoy such a large and diversified economic relationship as Canada and the U.S. and we should never forget that,” said Sylvain Fabi, Consul General of Canada.

The regional Consul General of Canada and the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Service team were there to talk to the legislature.

They discussed maintaining good relations, strengthening trade, supporting economic sectors and business growth between these long-running partners, especially during a globally volatile time.

Canada is the largest trade partner of the United States and Wyoming in the Energy, mineral, and agricultural sectors.

The USMCA trade agreement was signed in 2018 between the three North American allies to ensure stable and equitable supplies and growth.

Next, the Wyoming WWAMI Medical Educational program students and team also visited the Capitol.

Experts say legislators support this program to help keep medical students practicing within the state.

Under the program, the state helps cover about 85 percent of students’ medical education costs, and in return, the students commit to work in Wyoming for at least three years.

”We need a stronger medical infrastructure in Wyoming. So many of our students are passionate about rural health care, access to health care and honestly just doing the work of primary care physicians in the state,” said Brandt Schumaker, Director of the Wyoming WWAMI Medical Educational Program.

The WWAMI program has been running for 26 years.

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