The 2020 International Legislators’ Forum (ILF) was originally slated for June in Bismarck, ND. The coronavirus pandemic changed our plans, but the delegates’ essential work continues. Their work has been made even more critical during this pandemic, in which questions of governance, economic impact, and public health transcend borders, and communities and governments are joining together to craft and share solutions.

In response to COVID-19, the Consensus Council and the ILF Steering Committee organized a series of virtual sessions in September (9/22), October (10/15), and November (11/19) to learn, share, and discuss the economic, public health, and governance impacts of the pandemic on our five jurisdictions. The ILF’s efforts this fall will enable legislators from Manitoba, Minnesota, North Dakota, Saskatchewan, and South Dakota to share ideas, continue to build bridges, and collaborate, developing common sense solutions for the betterment of our prairie region.