Governor LePage Travels to Montreal to Encourage Economic Growth between Maine and Quebec

April 23, 2013

For Immediate Release: April 23, 2013
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary (207) 287-2531

AUGUSTA ? Governor Paul R. LePage signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday with Premier of Quebec Pauline Marois to encourage economic development and support job creation between Maine and Province of Quebec. The Premier invited the Governor to Montreal to sign the agreement, which she described as an important collaboration between Maine and Quebec.

Although Maine and Quebec share a border, as well a common history and culture, this is the first time that the state has entered into such an MOU to strengthen relations with Quebec.

?I was pleased to meet with Premier Marois to discuss how Maine and Quebec can work together to create jobs and cooperate in the areas of energy, natural resources transportation, border security and culture,? the Governor said. ?And I know she was pleased to converse with me in French, which is my native language, and to talk about our shared French-Canadian heritage.?

The MOU encourages Maine and Quebec to coordinate with their business communities to set up partnerships and implement economic development initiatives. The agreement also encourages an exchange of cross-border solutions for clean energy, such as hydropower and bioenergy, which could lower home heating costs for Maine people?.

?Le Qu?bec et le Maine partagent non seulement une histoire et un patrimoine, mais ?galement des enjeux et des d?fis qui pr?sentent des occasions de collaboration importantes. Je me r?jouis de la signature de cet accord qui t?moigne de notre volont? ? travailler ensemble pour assurer le d?veloppement de relations qui nous seront mutuellement b?n?fiques,? said Premier Marois.

A Quebec-Maine Joint Committee will be responsible for implementing the agreement.

In addition to signing the agreement with the Premier, Governor LePage spoke to 150 business leaders at luncheon conference sponsored by The Montreal Council on Foreign Relations. Titled ?Maine and Quebec: Opportunities to Stimulate our Economic Relations,? the Governor spoke about economic agenda of Maine, strengthening of business relations with Quebec and business opportunities that Maine can offer Quebec.

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