Most of the top leaders were absent from the annual meeting between northeastern U.S. governors and Canadian premiers, which is not surprising given the current cross-border trade tensions, according to a political scientist at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Don Desserud, who heads the political science department at UPEI, mentioned that Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia and Premier Rob Lantz of Prince Edward Island were the only high-ranking Canadian officials present at the 47th annual assembly of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers that concluded on Monday.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott hosted the event, with only one out of six state governors, including him, attending in person, while the others sent representatives.
Desserud suggested that the focus of current premiers on practical solutions might explain their lack of interest in such meetings, given the strained relations between the two countries.
“The significance of the gathering seems to be more symbolic than functional,” Desserud remarked over the phone as the two-day conference wrapped up.
“I believe we now have a generation of premiers who prioritize practicality over appearances.”
Reasons for Non-attendance
Meanwhile, the office of New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt stated that she stayed in the province to attend to local priorities. The province’s trade policy chief, Serge Breau, represented her at the meeting.
A spokesperson for Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham cited his inability to attend without providing further details. A deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs represented Newfoundland at the gathering.
Quebec sent its International Relations Minister, Christopher Skeete, instead of Premier Christine Frechette. The spokesperson for Skeete clarified that the delegation choice was not related to the trade tensions.
Frechette has been occupied with preparations for a provincial election scheduled for October 1.
Among the six New England governors, four are currently involved in primary elections leading up to the fall statewide polls.
Attendance at the conference has shown a declining trend in recent years.
Last year’s meeting in St. John’s saw three premiers and one governor in attendance, with lower-level officials making up the rest of the state delegations.
The 2024 conference in Boston had two premiers and five governors present. In the prior year, the 44th annual conference in Quebec saw three premiers and four governors participating.
At the last in-person gathering before the pandemic in 2018, four premiers and three governors were in attendance.
The 2019 meeting was canceled due to Hurricane Dorian.
The ongoing trade war initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump has defined the current relationship between Canada and the U.S., with additional tariffs of 50% on certain Canadian goods planned for August 19.
This could be a significant reason for the low attendance at the conference, as noted by Desserud.
“The constant back-and-forth of tariffs undermines any potential agreements, rendering them almost futile,” he remarked.
Vermont Governor Scott acknowledged the strained relations between the two countries in a statement released after the conference.
“During this period of uncertainty and tension in our countries’ relationship, governors and premiers play a crucial role in maintaining strong connections,” Scott emphasized.
Scott, Houston, and Lantz utilized the two-day event to visit an aerospace company and a farm to explore collaborative opportunities in clean energy and advanced manufacturing, as per a statement from the governor’s office.
The group also engaged with local industry leaders to discuss enhancing energy security, developing reliable infrastructure, and fostering economic growth.
Desserud, who authored a book on Maritime interprovincial politics last year, acknowledged the reasons why many leaders did not attend but highlighted the importance of participation.
“I believe that premiers leave these conferences with a better understanding of the happenings in