Premier Binns Meeting with US Governors

Premier Pat Binns, Chair of the Council of the Federation, and Premier Dalton McGuinty of Ontario, incoming Chair of the Council of the Federation, will be meeting with the Executive Committee of the National Governors Association in Washington, D.C. on May 12.

“The initiative for this meeting originated at the Annual Premiers’ Conference in Charlottetown last year,” Binns explained. “The Premiers agreed that in the interest of improving the relationship between the United States and Canada, it would be important to explore a relationship between our respective organizations – the recently created Council of the Federation, representing Canada’s Premiers, and the National Governors Association.” The National Governors Association is a group of all the heads of US states or territories.

“The United States is the largest trading partner for Canada and Prince Edward Island,” said Premier Binns. Provinces and territories have unique relationships with states that can be used to enhance the profile of Canada in the United States. Topics for discussion include the importance of the Canada-United States economic and trade relationship, states’ and provinces’ mutual interest in maintaining an open border consistent with security needs, and the current priorities of the National Governors Association and the Council of the Federation.