Massachusetts Delegation Bound for Nova Scotia

A top-level delegation of business, educational and economic leaders from Massachusetts will be making an unprecedented visit to Nova Scotia next month.

Gov. Paul Cellucci will be the most senior member of the contingent, which is expected to include 25 economic, research, development and learning leaders from the state. It marks the first time in history that a governor of Massachusetts will make an official visit to Nova Scotia.

The meetings, to be called the Nova Scotia Summit, will be held at Saint Mary's University, Halifax, on May 12 and 13. The governor will be the keynote speaker. The summit is the result of months of discussions between state and provincial officials following an exchange at Harvard University last summer.

Premier Russell MacLellan announced the summit during a breakfast address to the prestigious New England Council in Boston today, the first official day of the Team Atlantic Canada trade mission to New England.

The Team Atlantic Canada initiative involves 40 of the region's business leaders, led by the premiers of the four provinces.

"This is a tremendous accomplishment and a fantastic start for Nova Scotia on this mission," Premier MacLellan said after his address. "Within a month, many of the best and the brightest from both areas will be meeting in Halifax to collectively discuss and plan our economic future."

Following the premier's comments, Gov. Cellucci said the plans for the summit underlined the growing financial, knowledge and cultural links between his state and Nova Scotia.

"Our respective economies and family histories have been closely intertwined for centuries," he said. "Now we are exploring new ways to jointly succeed in the new global economy of tomorrow."

The governor's agenda is expected to include a visit to Nova Scotia's Sable offshore energy fields, from where natural gas will soon be delivered to customers in Massachusetts and throughout New England.

Appropriately enough, the focus of Premier MacLellan's remarks today was the nature and scope of the province's extensive offshore energy resources, and how they could be used to strengthen the Nova Scotia-New England relationship.

In announcing the summit, he also officially introduced Halifax business leader Fred MacGillivray, who has accepted the premier's request to chair the May conference in Nova Scotia.

Mr. MacGillivray said that he was honoured to be offered the challenge. He said he and his executive organizing committee have already been actively working on plans for the event in anticipation of the premier's formal announcement.

"The Nova Scotia business community fully supports the premier's commitment to building stronger commercial ties between Nova Scotia and Massachusetts," said Mr. MacGillivray. "I share his vision of the summit as an exceptional opportunity for Massachusetts and Nova Scotia to renew our traditional business and social relationships, while developing a joint economic strategy for the future."

The Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development and Tourism is co-ordinating planning for the summit with the assistance of the Office of Nova Scotia in New England, Boston. The summit agenda, including speakers and delegates, is expected to be announced before the end of the month.