‘You shouldn’t feel intimidated’: Maine governor meets with Maritime premiers to strengthen relations

Maine Gov. Janet Mills sits down for an interview with CTV News Atlantic’s Todd Battis.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills is visiting the Maritimes this week to strengthen relations amid the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States.

Mills arrived Monday and held a roundtable meeting with the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce before meeting with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt to discuss tariffs and trade on Tuesday at the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.

On Wednesday, she arrived in Nova Scotia to meet with Premier Tim Houston. Mills said she is also meeting with local citizens and businesspeople to learn where Maine can strengthen their relationships with the Maritimes.

“I’m very interested in the research that is going on here, particularly marine sciences,” Mills said in an interview with CTV News Atlantic’s Todd Battis. “We have similar research going on in Maine and I want to make sure we connect those assets and those synergies.”

Mills said she was interested in learning from the Maritimes about how Maine can diversify their aquaculture, forestry and farming.

“I’m excited about some of the things that are being done here in Nova Scotia, some of the products being developed in the Atlantic provinces,” Mills said.

Mills will also be meeting with the Centre of Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship in Dartmouth, an innovation hub for the global marine technology sectors.

“Maine depends on oil and petroleum products from Canada, we’re looking at alternative energy sources,” Mills said. “Theres a lot going on.”

During her meeting with Premier Holt, Mills said President Donald Trump doesn’t speak for her and many Americans when it comes to discussions about Canada, which she reiterated on Wednesday.

“[This] historically peaceful border, between Canada and the United States is peaceful still,” Mills said. “It’s not a warzone.”

Mills said she wants to reassure people Maine is still welcoming Canadians, despite recent fears of crossing the border due to frayed U.S.-Canada relations.

“Those fears, I understand where they are coming from, and I feel disheartened about that too,” Mills said. “But still, we are a safe state and it’s a safe border and you shouldn’t feel intimidated.”