Governor and Quebec Premier Sign Bilateral Agreement

February 13, 2004

Contact: Lee Umphrey, 287-2531 Joy Leach, 287-2531

QUEBEC CITY – Governor John E. Baldacci and Quebec Premier Jean Charest gave a boost to enhanced political and economic relations between Maine and Quebec during a meeting at which a bilateral security agreement was signed. These closer relations should pave the way to bilateral cooperation in new fields such as regional economic development, academic relations and security. The Governor is on a mission to Québec along with a delegation of about 20 business representatives. On Thursday and Friday, the group from Maine held a number of networking meetings with counterparts in the Quebec regions of the Beauce, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Quebec/Chaudiere-Appalaches.

“In addition to their shared border, Quebec and Maine share very similar problems with respect to managing resources and economic development,” said Premier Charest. “Governor Baldacci and I agree on the need to collaborate in complementary sectors and regions.”

In the words of Governor Baldacci, “This new partnership with Quebec is one of the key elements of the Northeast Atlantic Region (NEAR) initiative that I launched following my election in November 2002. This mission is an illustration of the numerous opportunities for cooperation between Maine and Quebec.”

The bilateral agreement signed by the two heads of government will enable exchanges of information between the Ministère de la Sécurité publique (Québec Department of Public Security) and the Maine Department of Public Safety, in order to facilitate the application of laws and enhance internal security. The agreement flows from the shared desire by the United States and Canada to cooperate more closely on security matters.

The Governor spoke to an audience of about a hundred people this morning at the Château Frontenac, during a breakfast organized by the Chambre de Commerce de Québec (Québec City Chamber of Commerce). A partnership between Université Laval and the University of Maine, in Orono, aimed at creating a trans-border academic program in the field of rural economics, was highlighted during the event.

At noon, Governor Baldacci and his delegation took part in a work session with Quebec’s Minister of Employment, Solidarity and Family Welfare, Claude Béchard, and a group of 30 business and education representatives from the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The meeting will be followed at a later date by a visit to the Rimouski area by representatives of the Maine Maritime Academy, which is interested in developing links with the Institut maritime du Québec (Quebec Maritime Institute) and other components of Technopole maritime du Québec (Québec Maritime Technopole).

Following a visit this morning to the Parc technologique du Québec métropolitain (Greater Québec City Technology Park), the Maine delegation split into two groups after lunch in order to take part in industrial tours organized by Pôle Québec Chaudière-Appalaches, in the forestry and biotechnology sectors. The Governor of Maine and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development are highly interested in the “Québec” way of organizing technological development and facilitating links between research and businesses.

Yesterday, the Maine delegation participated in a program of meetings and visits in the Beauce region, organized by the Ministère du Développement économique et régional (Quebec Department of Economic and Regional Development) and the Beauce and Lévis/Chaudière-Appalaches economic councils. About 40 regional representatives attended these meetings, which were an opportunity for people responsible for economic development in neighbouring areas of Quebec and Maine to establish high-level contacts. Since 2001, Quebec and Maine have been united by the Chaudière-Kennebec International Corridor, which covers a trans-border area with a rich shared history and heritage.

Premier Charest has invited Governor Baldacci to take part in the preparations for Québec City’s 400th-anniversary celebrations, in 2008. The Governor will have an opportunity to discuss this idea in greater detail tomorrow morning, during a meeting at city hall with the Mayor of Quebec City, Jean-Paul L’Allier.