International relations are not all state dinners and black motorcades — productive friendships between governments are strengthened by face-to-face meetings and frank talk.

That’s why Senator Janis Johnson was in Washington D.C. last week for a meeting of the 57-year-old Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group — a gathering of senior politicians from both countries and from across the political spectrum.

“Face time with the Americans is critical,” Senator Johnson said. “It’s our most important relationship in the world.”

Senator Johnson is co-chair of the Canadian Section along with MP Wayne Easter. The Canadian delegation met with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The group meetings take place behind closed doors so politicians can speak freely with each other about even the most controversial issues.

“There’s a great comfort level talking to each other,” said Senator Johnson, who has been a member of the group for the past 15 years. “We’re very open.”

There are dozens of issues that affect Canadian and U.S. interests and demand a coordinated approach.

The dumping of steel into the North American marketplace, nuclear waste disposal, softwood lumber, invasive species and international security were just a handful of topics under discussion.

“We get to the root of things,” Senator Johnson said. “That’s why we do it.”

In the past, the Canadian Section of the group was successful in conveying the country’s concerns on topics like softwood lumber, pacific salmon, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (more commonly known as mad cow disease), and the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Senators Wilfred Moore and Paul Massicotte — both group vice-chairs — and a number of MPs rounded out the Canadian delegation.