Promoting Nova Scotia Priorities on U.S.

PREMIER'S OFFICE--Promoting Nova Scotia Priorities on U.S. Mission

Softwood lumber, energy and trade will be the focus of a three- day mission to the northeastern United States. Premier John Hamm will be promoting these issues in meetings with business, industry and government officials in Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York from Wednesday, Dec. 5, to Friday, Dec. 7.

"In the post-September 11th world, it's essential that Nova Scotia maintain and build our commercial relationships with the our closest trading partners -- the northeastern United States," said the premier. "I look forward to reiterating Nova Scotia's position as open for business, open to investment, open to job creation and growth."

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, Premier Hamm will join with the other Atlantic provinces and the Maritime Lumber Bureau to deliver the common regional message on softwood lumber to special United States envoy Marc Racicot. U.S. President George Bush recently named Mr. Racicot, a former Montana governor, as his special envoy on the ongoing softwood lumber dispute. Forestry is a $1.4- billion industry in the province, employing over 20,000 Nova Scotians.

"Government and industry must deliver a strong message to our American friends that Atlantic Canadian softwood lumber producers are free traders and deserve to be recognized as such," added the premier. "Any softwood lumber solution between Canada and the United States must be based on three clear principles: no anti- dumping, no countervail and no export tax."

The mission agenda also includes a breakfast address by Premier Hamm to the North Shore Chamber of Commerce in Peabody, Mass., as well as meetings with the president of the American Petroleum Institute, the president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the executive vice-president of the American Gas Association. The board of trade, through its Greater Washington Initiative, has a strategic alliance promoting trade and investment with the Greater Halifax Partnership.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, Premier Hamm will participate in a ceremony with Canadian Ambassador Michael Kergin to light the Nova Scotia Christmas tree on display at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. On Friday, Dec. 7, Premier Hamm will meet with potential investors and senior oil and gas executives in New York City.

Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser, who will be joining the premier for most of the mission, noted that increasing exports and expanding investment are two of the key directions outlined last year in Opportunities for Prosperity, the province's economic growth strategy. During the first quarter of 2001, Nova Scotia recorded its first-ever trade surplus.

"As a provincial government, we need to do whatever it takes to bring jobs to Nova Scotia," concluded the minister.