Premier Pat Binns will participate in discussions about a variety of bilateral issues at the upcoming meeting of the New England Governors' and Eastern Canadian Premiers' Conference, set for October 4-5.
"Topping the list of key agenda items will be international trade expansion, energy issues and air quality," says the Premier. "These bilateral discussions are crucial to Atlantic Canada's future and follow our very successful Team Atlantic trade mission to New England states last April."
The 24th annual meeting of the conference will be held in Rockford, Maine and will bring together the Premiers of Atlantic Canada and Quebec, together with the Governors of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Also attending are Mr. Gordon Giffin, United States' Ambassador to Canada and Mr. Raymond Chretien, Canada's Ambassador to the United States. Both Ambassadors will make presentations on trade liberalization and participate in discussions with the Premiers and Governors. Premier Binns notes these discussions are timely and relevant, given that Prince Edward Island's exports to New England have almost doubled in the last four years. "The 91 per cent growth in PEI exports to New England between 1994 and 1998 has created new job opportunities for Islanders," says Premier Binns.
The trade enhancement talks will also reexamine states' and provinces' concerns about Section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Act, which if implemented in its current form has the potential of creating backlogs of traffic at border crossing points. "Many state Governors and Premiers share common concerns that the new US law will unnecessarily impede the flow of goods and tourists at border crossings," says Premier Binns.
Rounding out the agenda are issues of energy and air quality. Mr. Bill Richardson, United States Secretary of Energy, will address the Premiers and Governors on the issue of energy reliability. A committee report on regional energy sources such as hydro electricity and natural gas will be tabled.
Following last year's meeting in which resolutions were passed approving action plans to reduce acid rain and mercury emissions, the conference delegates will also receive progress reports on those issues and approve implementation plans. In 1998, Governors and Premiers urged their respective federal jurisdictions to combat acid rain by reducing sulphur dioxide emissions 50 per cent by year 2010 and nitrogen oxide emissions by 20-30 per cent by 2007. In addition, actions are being introduced to reduce mercury emissions in the region by 50 per cent by 2003.
Premier Binns notes, "Atlantic Canadians know too well that winds don't respect borders and that Governors and Premiers must act together to improve air quality. The Governors' and Premiers' conference is an ideal, bilateral forum to address issues of air quality as well as trade expansion and energy issues."