Maine governor touring New Brunswick, Nova Scotia this week

The governor of Maine is touring the Maritimes to strengthen cross-border relations.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills is touring the Maritimes this week, looking to shore up cross-border travel and business amidst frayed U.S.-Canada relations.

Gov. Mills and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt discussed tariffs and trade in Fredericton on Tuesday during a “fireside chat” hosted by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m here today to talk to you and listen to you about how we can improve relations, despite some obstacles coming from powers that are outside our control,” Mills said to the Fredericton audience. “And how we can continue the deep abiding cultural, economic, financial relationships that are so important to all of us.”

Mills and Holt met last week in Boston to talk tariffs and trade during a summit of eastern Canadian premiers and U.S. governors.

Holt thanked Mills for being “a champion for Canada’s interests” at the Fredericton event.

“Long after presidents have changed, New Brunswick and Maine will still be here and families will still be here, doing business across the border, shaking hands across the border,” said Holt.

Mills arrived in New Brunswick on Monday where she held a roundtable meeting with the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce.

Mills is scheduled to meet with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston in Halifax on Wednesday, as well as tour the Centre of Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship in Dartmouth.

“It’s a terrifying thing going down there right now”

Mills heard concerns about crossing the border from audience members during the Fredericton event’s question and answer session.

Vivian Myers-Jones, a member of the Saint John Pride board, is planning to attend Pride events in Bangor, Maine, this weekend. Myers-Jones, who is a dual-citizen, said there’s real fear about being in the United States right now, especially amongst the transgender community.

“It’s a terrifying thing going down there right now,” she said.

David Dennis told Mills his family had recently cancelled a trip to Maine because his wife, who was born in Venezuela, was concerned about detainment at the border. After the event was over, Dennis received a hug from Mills who said, “tell your wife we’ll keep her safe.”

“The governor of Maine is phenomenal,” Dennis told reporters. “She’s doing the best job she can. However, we have to focus on what we can control.”

Mill said she understood the angst and offence felt by Canadians she’s spoken to ever since the trade war’s escalation earlier this year,

“But the president doesn’t speak for me and doesn’t speak for a lot of Americans when it comes to discussions about Canada,” said Mills.

In May, Mills ordered the placement of new highway signs across Maine to welcome Canadian visitors. During that same month, Maine saw about 85,000 fewer travellers cross the border from Canada compared to May 2024.

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