It was established as a public policy forum that focuses on dialogue about the full spectrum of US-Canada issues.
[2] The aim is to enhance the understanding and knowledge about Canada, particularly among the policy community in Washington D.C., and to create new channels of communication among scholars, business leaders, NGOs, and policymakers.
Specific areas of concern include energy, trade, the US-Canadian border, security challenges, regional economic integration, immigration, globalization, and environment, among others.
[3] An example of the institute's initiatives is the One Issue, Two Voices publication series, which involves dialogues between Canadian and American authors discussing the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
[3] A discussion on health care in 2008, for instance, involved Antonia Maioni and Theodore Marmor, who revealed the disparities in spending, coverage, and access for the two countries.