Almond signed the New England Governors' Conference resolution:
The Northeast International Committee on Energy (NICE) was established by the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in 1978 to monitor and act upon common energy issues in the New England-/ Eastern Canadian region. In recent years, NICE has been paying particular attention to significant developments in the areas of electric restructuring, natural gas developments, and resource and infrastructure development. At the 25th Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers held in Halifax, Nova Scotia in July 2000, Resolution 25-12 was adopted directing NICE to:
continue to monitor developments in the energy markets;
adopt a letter to then-Secretary Richardson of the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommending that the DOE work with the NICE and states and provinces to maintain an open North American energy market and clarify the treatment of large-scale hydro-electric power under federal restructuring legislation;
collaborate with the NEG/ECP Committee on the Environment, the Province of New Brunswick and the Premier’s Round Table on Environment and Economy to conduct a workshop to examine global warming issues in our region, evaluate the conclusions of the workshop and present a recommended action plan to the 2001 annual meeting of the NEG/ECP;
examine ways to encourage energy conservation, demand-side management programs, energy efficiency the development of new energy technologies;
continue to define and develop a graphical computerized energy database for the region;
report back on key jurisdictional energy issues in the region, including the region’s energy storage capacity and infrastructure.
Source: NEG/ECP Resolution 25-12: Energy / NICE 00-NEGC12 on Jul 18, 2000
Foster globalization with New England & Eastern Canada.
Almond signed the New England Governors' Conference resolution:
WHEREAS, a successful Knowledge Industry Innovators’ Forum resulted in the identification of issues critical to the continued development of a knowledge economy in the Northeast; and
WHEREAS, the Governor’s Conference is desirous of working together, in cooperation with the business community, to promote economic growth, facilitate trade flows across borders, and identify future opportunities for trade development;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopt the [work plan summarized here]:
Continue to focus on the development of strategies and initiatives that Premiers and Governors can undertake to grow the Northeast region’s knowledge economy.
Monitor and discuss national and international trade policy, including NAFTA, WTO, and discussions regarding a free trade agreement of the Americas.
Identification of border crossing impediments and strategies for addressing; including cross-border re-location of professionals, and businesses wishing to conduct business in both countries.
Assess opportunities and challenges facing the Northeast energy sector.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Trade and Globalization seek appropriate resources to undertake a trade and infrastructure study for the region; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [we commit to] continue working with innovators to profile the region’s knowledge economy sector, identify key public and private sector institutions in order to encourage the development of a strong, representative, regional network to assist Governors and Premiers in facilitating the continued development of a knowledge economy in the Northeast.
Source: NEG/ECP Resolution 26-5: Trade & Globalization 01-NEGC5 on Aug 28, 2001
More business cooperation between New England & East Canada.
Almond signed the New England Governors' Conference resolution:
WHEREAS the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) think it would be desirable to intensify the process of trade liberalization within the region;
WHEREAS, the majority of participants in the Forum expressed the wish that there be more cooperation between governments in the region;
WHEREAS the majority of participants in the Forum think that governments should facilitate greater collaboration between boards of trade and business associations within the region;
WHEREAS the governments agree that business associations are key partners to promote economic integration within the region;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers
adopt the report from the Northeastern Business Forum
THAT the Conference bring to the attention of the federal authorities of Canada and the United States of America the concerns expressed during the Forum, particularly with regard to these irritants:
customs procedures for goods
temporary entry for business people
harmonization of regulations, licensing and intellectual property rights
THAT the members of the Conference identify business associations able to promote the development of a regional regrouping;
THAT this new regional regrouping of business people will direct its actions primarily on the basis of the report of the Northeastern Business Forum;
THAT a forum of government officials and representatives from the business sector convene a meeting in Québec in 1999 with a view to developing the information highway and electronic commerce within the region.
Source: NEG/ECP Resolution 23-7: Economic Cooperation 98-NEGC7 on Jun 9, 1998
