Presentation by Robert Keating Assistant Deputy Minister Bilateral Affairs Ministère des Relations internationales Canada-United States Transportation Border Working Group – Fall Plenary Thursday, October 28th, 2010

A network of 6 offices across the U.S.

The Québec Government’s U.S. Strategy and Action Plan objectives : –Fostering trade –Ensuring Québec’s leadership regarding energy and environment –Contributing to the security of the North American continent –Encouraging the sharing and promotion of Québec’s culture and identity –Increasing Québec’s capacity to take action and supporting the development of expertise

Value of Québec – US trade in goods (2009) –CDN$ 62,1 billion –Transportation equipment, aluminium and other metals, paper, wood products Québec –6th largest exporter to the US (outpacing UK and South Korea) –13th largest market for US exports Main destinations of Québec’s exports –New York State (CDN$ 6.1 billion) –Vermont (CDN$ 3.2 billion) –Pennsylvania (CDN$ 3.1 billion) –Tennessee (CDN$ 3.1 billion) –Illinois (CDN$ 2.6 billion) Trade

The Strategy action plan –Helps companies to establish adapted marketing strategies –Provides increased support for their integration into expanding trade networks –Facilitates contacts with potential clients and partners –Fosters an advantageous positioning of Québec and its companies –Promotes Québec’s excellence in research and innovation Trade

Québec is the world’s 4th largest producer of hydroelectricity (47,110 MW) 97% of electricity production in Québec now comes from a clean and renewable source: hydropower Québec possesses 3% of the world’s freshwater reserves Québec has the best per capita greenhouse gas emissions record in Canada Québec has adopted, in November 2009, a target reduction of 20% below the 1990 level by 2020, declaring itself bound by the most stringent greenhouse gas emissions standard in North America Energy and Environment

Energy and Environment Strategy Québec must make sure that new U.S. legislation and future policies pertaining to renewable energies will enable it to rely on a long-term approach that promotes a flexible electricity supply by: –not rejecting water-generated electricity from Québec; –allowing full use of existing supply infrastructure; –fostering the installation of new export corridors and the signing of long-term contracts

Security Security is one of the five major objectives of the Québec’s International Policy 14 Québec Government’s departments and agencies are actively involved in public safety, counterterrorism, immigration, transportation, health, agriculture, environment, etc. Creation of the Security Information Management Center (2006)

Security Collaboration with various U.S. partners –Cooperation agreement with New York State aimed at fighting terrorism and crime and reinforcing cooperation between administrative agencies and police forces (2008) –Active participation in the Northeast Regional Homeland Security Directors Consortium –Bilateral cooperation agreements covering the exchange of information relating to matters of law enforcement with Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont –Support the International Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding (mutual aid for civil protection)

Culture and Identity 13 touring and permanent shows in the U.S. Strategy –Developing markets for Québec’s creators and cultural enterprises –Promoting its productions to the U.S. public –Favorably positioning Québec’s uniqueness in North America together with its modernity and high-level expertise via its culture and beyond –Promoting French language

Capacity to take action Québec Government Offices mandate includes: Establishing lasting relations with governments, opinion leaders and other key stakeholders Advantageously using their networks of influence to position Québec’s expertise and target expanding markets for Québec companies and products Keeping a watch on the regions they serve Advising Québec companies and institutions wishing to establish ties with the U.S. Promote academic links, exchange of ideas and mobility of professors, researchers and students

Development of expertise Strategy Establish partnerships with US think tanks Increase U.S. Students in Québec at the Master’s and doctoral levels by 10% Foster the implementation of joint dual- degree educational programs Support university research to develop expertise on Québec – US Relations

Québec – U.S. A successful relationship in many sectors

Merci de votre attention ! Thank you for listening !