Eastern Canadian premiers, U.S. governors to meet in Boston Monday

The flags of Canada and the United States fly outside a hotel in downtown Ottawa, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Eastern Canadian premiers and U.S. state governors will gather in Boston Monday to discuss trade and tariffs.

The meeting, announced last month, is expected to focus on energy, manufacturing, and tourism in face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.

Attending the meeting from Canada will be Newfoundland and Labrador Premier John Hogan, Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, Quebec economic minister Christine Fréchette, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

The premiers were invited to the meeting by Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Canada is the largest single trading partner for Massachusetts and Maine.

Mills said Trump’s tariffs have damaged her state’s economy and relationship with Canada.

“I understand, their feelings are hurt,” said Mills about Canadians, in an interview with CTV News Atlantic’s Todd Battis Friday. “My feelings are hurt too. The people who have a deep seeded relationship with Canada are all hurt by this. We share that feeling.”

Mills and Holt have held multiple discussions about trade over the past several months. Holt, along with Lantz, travelled to Boston in March to meet with Healey.

Holt said she planned to focus on energy development at Monday’s meeting.

“New Brunswick supplies a lot of energy products to New England,” Holt said to reporters Thursday. “I think 90 per cent of the cars in Boston are driving with gas that comes from the Irving refinery and us. They are keen to make sure we will continue to be a reliable supplier of energy to them.”

With files from CTV’s Todd Battis and Avery MacRae

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