Executive Council
July 16, 2014
Strengthening the Economy for a Secure Future
Premier Marshall Outlines Major Energy Projects and Rapid Economic Growth in the Province at New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Meeting
The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, met with his colleagues at the 38th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) to discuss important issues affecting the region including collaboration on energy matters and cross jurisdictional trade and investment.
“While our 11 jurisdictions cross time-zones, climates and economic bases, we are aligned in our vision of the importance of working together for success, particularly in the energy sector. These two days in New Hampshire offered an important opportunity for governors and premiers to share ideas and best practices, and to find common goals and needs which we will focus on as we move into the future."
- The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Key discussions focused on the fostering of strategies which will encourage innovation in energy delivery, and ways which states and provinces can work together to create efficiencies and lower costs. Jurisdictions agreed to hold a Regional Energy Forum later this year for a public-private sector dialogue on ongoing changes in the regional energy landscape and to use the findings from that forum to identify strong collaborative actions. The New England states are moving to diversify their energy supply, secure access to reliable, clean energy at lower cost, and Newfoundland and Labrador is well positioned to help meet that market demand.
The New England states reported increased electricity demand in winter 2014 which cost energy consumers there an additional $3 billion to $3.5 billion compared to the year before. An update was provided from the New England States Committee on Energy (NESCOE) on the pressing need for electricity and efforts to satisfy the region's energy requirements by diversifying energy sources through a competitive joint procurement process.
Economic collaboration was also an important topic on the two-day agenda. Premier Marshall took the opportunity to highlight the tremendous growth in the industry sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.
While attending the conference, Premier Marshall also took the opportunity to meet with Premier Couillard of Quebec.
"Premier Couillard and I talked about mutual challenges and opportunities facing our provinces and agreed to meet again in Charlottetown next month during the annual Council of the Federation conference. We will continue discussions on ways to address those challenges and take advantage of opportunities."
- Premier Marshall
NEG/ECP represents 11 jurisdictions, comprising the six New England Governors and the five Eastern Canadian Premiers. This year's two-day conference, which concluded on Monday, was held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.
The next meeting of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers which is scheduled for August 30-31, 2015, will be held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
QUICK FACTS- Premier Marshall met on July 13-14 with his counterparts from the New England States and Eastern Canadian Provinces to discuss issues of mutual importance including energy development and economic trade.
- NEG/ECP represents 11 jurisdictions, comprising the six New England Governors and the five Eastern Canadian Premiers. Members include the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec.
- This year's two-day conference, which concluded on Monday, was held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.
- Details on the resolutions coming out of the conference are available at://www.scics.gc.ca/english/Conferences.asp?a=view&id=3111
- The next meeting of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers is scheduled for August 30-31, 2015, and will be held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Media contacts:
| Milly Brown Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 MillyBrown@gov.nl.ca |
Kevin Guest Press Secretary Office of the Premier 709-729-4304, 730-2320 kevinjguest@gov.nl.ca |
2014 07 16 12:05 p.m.