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Canadian Section of Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group Attends Meeting of Southeastern United States-Canadian Provinces Alliance From April 11-13, 2010, Mr. Gord Brown, M.P., Co-Chair of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG), led a delegation to the third annual conference of the Southeastern United States-Canadian Provinces (SEUS-CP) Alliance in Biloxi, Mississippi. Other members of the delegation included the Honourable Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P., Vice-Chair and the Honourable Richard Neufeld, Senator. Governors Haley Barbour (Mississippi), Sonny Perdue (Georgia), Mark Sanford (South Carolina) and Phil Bredesen (Tennessee) attended the conference, as did Premiers Danny Williams (Newfoundland and Labrador), Robert Ghiz (Prince Edward Island) and Jean Charest (Quebec). Alabama and North Carolina were represented by Secretary of Commerce Neal Wade and Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton respectively, while Manitoba, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were represented by Ministers Peter Bjornson, Victor Boudreau and Percy Paris respectively. “This conference marked the first occasion on which the IPG has had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the SEUS-CP Alliance. We were struck by the usefulness of this group and this meeting. As well, we were particularly pleased to see that quite a number of Governors and Premiers were in attendance. In our view, their participation is a clear indicator of the stature of the group and of its accomplishments,” said Mr. Brown. Mr. Brown concluded: “At this meeting, panel discussions were held on advanced manufacturing, energy and geospatial technology. In respect of each of these business sectors, three perspectives were explored: investment, trade, and research and development. Certainly, I think these three topic areas provide opportunities for bilateral cooperation, and I believe we can work well together in enhancing our joint investment, trade and R&D. As well, more than 300 business-to-business meetings were held. From the delegation’s perspective, the meeting was a success.” The SEUS-CP Alliance is a trade- and investment focused partnership between six southeastern US states – Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee – and seven Canadian provinces – Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island. The group was established in 2007 to serve as a forum through which common interest in enhancing economic ties between the two regions could be advanced. Additional information about the group, which will hold its fourth annual conference in New Brunswick in June 2011, can be found at: www.seuscp.org. It should be noted that the views expressed in this news release are specific to the Canadian Section of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group and, as such, may not reflect the views of our United States counterparts. The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group 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 -30- For further information: 613-944-4238
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