Canadian IPG Vice-Chairs Attend
Meeting of From 13-15 July 2014, two Vice-Chairs from the Canadian Section of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG) – the Honourable Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P. and Mr. John Williamson, M.P. – attended the 38th annual conference of the New England Governors & Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP). The conference, which was co-chaired by New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan and Premier Tom Marshall from Newfoundland and Labrador, was held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. “The theme of this year’s conference – ‘Partnering for an Innovation Economy’ – is certainly applicable to both the United States and Canada, generally and in the eastern part of the two countries,” said Mr. Easter. “Having attended national meetings of governors and a number of NEG/ECP conferences in the past, I know how important it is that governors and premiers who share common interests have a forum in which to identify concerns, share best practices and develop practical solutions to problems. Cooperation between NEG/ECP states and provinces was evident with the adoption of resolutions on regional energy markets and regional initiatives for sustainable transportation systems." Mr. Williamson noted: "Our shared region has a very high level of energy cooperation. Canada offers solutions to rising energy prices in New England with our stock of hydroelectricity, nuclear power and oil. There are opportunities for collaboration and partnerships among the states and provinces in the NEG/ECP, but also among other states and provinces. Innovation in new energy sources, together with abundant traditional sources of affordable energy, will help to ensure North American competitiveness.” Established in 1973, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers is an inter-regional, bi-national organization of 11 jurisdictions: six New England states – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and five Eastern Canadian provinces – New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. The governors and premiers meet alternately in Eastern Canada and the New England states to address issues of shared concern, and to cooperate in: developing networks and relationships; taking collective action; engaging in regional projects and endorsing projects by others; undertaking research; and increasing public awareness of common interests. The views expressed in this news release are specific to the Canadian Section of the Canada-United States IPG and, as such, may not reflect the views of U.S. counterparts. The Canada-United States IPG aims to find points of convergence in respective national policies, to initiate dialogue on points of divergence, to encourage the exchange of information and to promote better understanding among legislators on shared issues of concern. Additional information on the Group can be found at www.parl.gc.ca/iia/us. -30- For further information: Hon. Janis Johnson,
Senator, Co-Chair Canada-U.S.
Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-992-8756 Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group - 613-944-4238
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