A R epor t from the Council of Great Lakes G over nors Chair’s Letter
I was honored to recently join my fellow Governors and
Premiers in historic Québec City for
our region’s 2015 Leadership Summit.
Our program focused on “Connecting
Across Borders.” Toward this end, we
launched a new Conference of Great
Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors
and Premiers to coordinate our future
work. This Conference builds on our
longstanding relationships as Governors
Michigan Governor
Rick Snyder
and Premiers, and will bring us together
as ten equal partners united in our
commitment to sustainably grow the region’s economy.
We announced a series of ambitious actions to grow
our region’s economy and protect the world’s greatest
freshwater system. We pledged to develop a strategy to
double maritime trade, shrink the environmental impact
of the region’s transportation network, and support the
region’s industrial core.
We took important steps to further protect our natural
resources. For example, we completed a mutual aid
agreement to help combat aquatic invasive species.
We launched an innovative pilot program between
Michigan, Ohio and Ontario to harmonize AIS
regulations. I also committed with my colleagues to
combat nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms in
Lake Erie. Our work will accelerate in coming weeks and
months as we tackle this critical challenge.
Lastly, we initiated work to foster regional economic
clusters based on an analysis by Harvard Business
School. This will complement our efforts to grow
regional exports through multi-sector missions to some
of the word’s most dynamic markets.
Through all of this work, we look forward to better
connecting across borders for the benefit of our region
and our citizens. Thanks for your continued work with
us.
—Rick Snyder
Chair, Council of Great Lakes Governors
Governor, State of Michigan
June 2015
Governors and
Premiers Launch
New Era of Regional
Cooperation
Québec Premier Philippe Couillard, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, and
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announce the creation of the Conference of
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers.
On June 12-14, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence
Governors and Premiers gathered in historic
Québec City for their 2015 Leadership Summit.
They announced a series of bold actions around the
summit’s theme - “Connecting Across Borders” – to
strengthen connections among the region’s States
and Provinces, and to better connect the region
with the world. Most significantly, they launched
a new Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence
Governors and Premiers to coordinate future work.
“Over the last two years, our region has made
tremendous progress to grow the economy, protect
the environment, and connect across borders,” said
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Council of Great
Lakes Governors Chair. “Today, we’re expanding
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LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
this effort by creating a new level of commitment by all ten States and Provinces to strengthen North America’s
heartland. The Governors and Premiers can speak with one voice to promote
the interests of the entire region.”
“This Summit is an opportunity to put together our different initiatives,
including Québec’s Maritime Strategy, to improve our maritime transportation
system, shape regional tourism, and maximize the economic and social
potential of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence system. Sustainable development
and responsible economic growth have always been core values of our region’s
work and will continue to guide our future actions, united under the authority
of the new Conference,” stated Québec Premier Philippe Couillard.
Governor Snyder and Premier Couillard hosted the June 12-14 summit
and were joined by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Wisconsin Governor
Scott Walker. Senior representatives of Indiana Governor Mike Pence;
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton; New York Governor Andrew Cuomo; Ohio
Governor John Kasich; and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf participated on
their behalf during the summit’s events, including Lieutenant Governors Sue
Ellspermann of Indiana, Kathy Hochul of New York, Mary Taylor of Ohio, and
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
Michael Stack of Pennsylvania.
The Governors and Premiers continue to collaborate with one another, and
with other partners, toward shared goals. Prominent speakers at the summit included:
• The Honorable Gary Doer, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S.;
• David Jacobson, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada and Vice Chair, BMO Capital Markets; • Mark Barker, President, Interlake Steamship Company;
• Allister Paterson, President, Canada Steamship Lines;
• Michael Sabia, President and CEO, Caisse de dépôt et
placement du Québec;
• Dr. Christian Ketels, Principal Associate, Harvard Business
School;
• Penny Lewandowski, Vice President, Edward Lowe
Foundation;
• Derek Vanstone, Vice President, Corporate Strategy,
Industry and Government Affairs, Air Canada; and,
• Dr. Craig Gordon, Program Manager - National
Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center, U.S. Department
Council Executive Director David Naftzger moderated a panel with
of Homeland Security Office of Cyber and Infrastructure
Gary Doer, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., and
David Jacobson, Vice Chair of BMO Capital Markets.
Analysis.
GOVERNORS’ AND PREMIERS’ LEADERSHIP SUMMIT ACTIONS:
• Creating the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers through which the ten
States and Provinces will collaborate to ensure the region’s continuing prosperity
• Pledging to develop a strategy to double maritime trade, shrink the environmental impact of the region’s
transportation network, and support the region’s industrial core
• Further protecting the region from aquatic invasive species by fully operationalizing a regional mutual aid
agreement, and launching an innovative pilot program among Michigan, Ohio and Ontario to harmonize AIS
regulations
• Combating nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie through a landmark agreement
• Creating a new program to foster regional economic clusters based on analysis by Harvard Business School
• Announcing multi-sector missions to promote exports to China, Europe, South America, and Central Asia
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Council of Great Lakes Governors
I N T E R N AT I O N A L T R A D E
Council Leads Trade Mission to Montréal
Building on a successful Leadership Summit in Quebéc City, the Council led a trade mission to Montréal, Québec
from June 14-17. Twenty-five delegates representing 20 Great
Lakes companies and State Economic Development Officials
from Michigan and New York participated in the trade mission.
Companies represented a wide array of industries including
agriculture, aerospace, life sciences, auto, medical and rail.
The Council’s Canada Office, working in conjunction with
the New York Canada Trade Office, created customized oneon-one meeting schedules for each company to connect with
potential distributors and end users.
Mission participants joined Governor Snyder of Michigan for
a Québec business briefing provided by U.S. Consul General in
Montréal Nina Maria Fite.
Governor Snyder and other trade mission participants in Montréal, Québec
Council Recruiting Companies for
South America Trade Mission
Small and medium-sized companies from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region that are looking to enter or grow
their footprint in South America are invited to join the Council’s multi-State/Provincial trade mission to Brazil,
Chile and Colombia October 17-27, 2015. The trade mission will make stops in São Paulo, Brazil; Santiago, Chile;
and Bogota, Colombia.
The Council’s Trade Offices in the region will work extensively with each mission participant to develop market
intelligence and create a tailored business appointment schedule in each country. Mission participants will benefit
from business briefings, networking events and logistical assistance.
The region’s key growth sectors include agricultural machinery and equipment, aerospace and aviation,
construction, electrical power, energy, environmental technology and mining.
Many of the Council’s member States and Provinces have grant funding available for qualified companies to
offset participation cost. The mission recruitment deadline is August 19, 2015. Further information on the South
America trade mission can be found at http://www.cglg.org/projects/international-trade/trade-missions/southamerica-mission-2015/
São Paulo, Brazil
Why export to Brazil, Chile and Colombia?
• Brazil is Latin America’s largest economy and has a population of nearly 200 million people. It has been one
of the world’s fastest growing economies. U. S. exports to Brazil in 2014 exceeded $42 billion.
• With a population of nearly 20 million, Chile offers a dynamic, transparent and low-risk business climate
for exporters. The U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement ensures 100% of U.S. products are automatically duty free.
• In 2014, U.S. exports to Colombia reached $20 billion. It has political stability, improved security and a
strong middle class which has created an economic boom.
Compass | June 2015
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A Q UAT I C I N VA S I V E S P E C I E S
Michigan, Ohio and Ontario
Collaborate to Combat AIS
Michigan, Ohio and Ontario have launched an innovative pilot project to harmonize
aquatic invasive species regulations and increase cooperation among the three
jurisdictions. The Council’s Aquatic
Invasive Species (AIS) Task Force will
help to facilitate this process, and work to
develop a model that can include other
States and Provinces in the future.
Last year, the Governors and Premiers
adopted a Mutual Aid Agreement (MAA)
to protect the region from AIS. This
groundbreaking agreement helps prevent
the introduction and spread of AIS, fosters
mutual aid among the States and Provinces
Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, Ontario Premier Kathleen
to respond to AIS, and encourages
Wynne, and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder sign a resolution to
further cooperative actions by the States
harmonize AIS regulations.
and Provinces. The Michigan-OhioOntario pilot project builds on the success of the MAA and sets the stage for continued
collaboration.
WAT E R M A N A G E M E N T
Regional Body and Compact Council to
Hold June Meetings
On June 25, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body
(“Regional Body”) and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council
(“Compact Council”) will meet at 2:00 p.m EDT via conference call. This meeting
will be open to the public and will include an opportunity for public comments. An
agenda, materials to be discussed, and call-in information are available at http://www.
glslregionalbody.org/ and http://www.glslcompactcouncil.org/
TO U R I S M
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rick Snyder,
Chair,
Governor of Michigan
Andrew Cuomo,
Governor of New York
Mark Dayton,
Governor of
Minnesota
John Kasich,
Governor of Ohio
Mike Pence,
Governor of Indiana
Bruce Rauner,
Governor of Illinois
Scott Walker,
Governor of Wisconsin
Tom Wolf,
Governor of
Pennsylvania
STAFF
David Naftzger,
Executive Director
Peter Johnson,
Deputy Director
Toby McCarrick,
Executive Director,
Great Lakes USA
Zoë Munro,
Program Manager
Mike Piskur,
Program Manager
Great Lakes USA Hosts German Delegation
From April 27-May 4, Great Lakes USA hosted
four German tour operators on a tour of destinations
in our region. The group visited a number of locations
including Chicago, Galena, and Rockford, Illinois;
Madison, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis and St. Paul,
Minnesota.
The German tour delegation enjoys a boat ride at the Wisconsin Dells.
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