MLA Paula Biggar met with top-ranking public and private sector officials this week to discuss strategies for tackling a range of policy challenges such as assessing the future of NAFTA, developing the Atlantic Gateway Initiative, addressing important border security measures and reviewing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
The discussions were held as part of The Council of State Governments' Eastern Regional Conference (CSG/ERC) Annual Meeting and Regional Policy Forum on Aug. 10 - 13 in Atlantic City. The 48th Annual Meeting primarily focused on how states can meet financial challenges in today's economic climate.
"The discussions will help my colleagues and I to improve programs for the citizens of our district, province and region," Biggar said.
The program included policy talks from several public and private officials. John Dickson, the director of the Office of Public Diplomacy Bureau of Western Hemisphere for the U.S. Dept. of State gave an important speech at the Northeast States/Eastern Canadian Provinces and Executive Committee Joint Luncheon entitled The Case for North America: NAFTA and Beyond.
In addition, Senator Bill Doyle of Vermont, the co-chairman of the ERC Eastern States and Canadian Provinces Committee, moderated a key discussion on the impact of security measures on U.S. and Canada cross border business.
MLA Murray K. Scott, Nova Scotia's minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal and a co-chair of the Eastern States and Canadian Provinces Committee, moderated a discussion on the Atlantic Gateway Initiative, a project to make Halifax the central distribution hub for moving international cargo. And Peter Hart, a U.S. pollster and political analyst, delivered a keynote speech on the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
"I think it's important that states and provinces share best practices and innovative ideas, as well as find ways to tackle border security issues and how they impact commerce," Biggar said. "I was honored to represent Prince Edward Island and take those ideas back to my constituents."
Officials also took part in interactive workshops such as finding finance options to support transportation and infrastructure needs, promoting renewable energy as a way to meet energy, security and environmental challenges, developing prevention strategies to bullying and bias in schools and discussing the role that states and non-profits play in strengthening the agriculture economy.
"The economic challenges that we face every day in Prince Edward Island are similar to the challenges facing the states and provinces that share our region," Biggar said. "Sharing solutions to our mutual problems is a proven model for success, and working together to promote regional priorities at the federal level is a vital way to help our citizens and families."
BACKGROUNDER
CSG/ERC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, founded in 1937, serving legislative, executive and judicial branch officials in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the Eastern Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Québec.
The mission of CSG/ERC is to provide a forum for new ideas; promote successful state policy innovations; advocate multi-jurisdictional problem solving; advocate regional interests at the federal level; offer leadership training and technical assistance; serve as a catalyst for public/private dialog; and forecast policy trends affecting the region.