Charest and Douglas discuss shared concerns

Premier Charest and Governor Douglas review
Progress on Agreements and shared concerns
Burlington, August 3, 2004-Québec Premier Jean Charest and Vermont
Governor Jim Douglas met Tuesday at ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake
Champlain in Burlington, Vermont, to review progress made under the
Cooperation Agreement Between the Government of Québec and the
Government of the State of Vermont and discuss shared concerns including
security, environmental issues surrounding lakes Champlain and
Memphremagog, and the extension of Highway 35 in Québec.
Progress has been made in many areas under the Québec-Vermont agreement
signed in December 2003, including
* Establishment of a joint Québec-Vermont committee to draw up
and monitor the 2004-2005 action plan
* Renewal of agreements on lakes Champlain and Memphremagog, as
well as the acceleration of measures under the Missisquoi Bay phosphorous
reduction agreement
* Frequent information exchange meetings between the Vermont
State Police, the Department of Homeland Security, and Sûreté du Québec
"I'm delighted to meet again with Governor Douglas to strengthen our
special ties to the State of Vermont, a neighbor with whom Québec has long
had a rich, solid relationship based on many shared interests. Québec and
Vermont share security concerns, bodies of water requiring cleanup and
protection, and a road system in need of improvement. The governor and I
are on the same wavelength regarding the importance of these issues and
what must be done. For example, we have agreed to tighten the deadline for
Missisquoi Bay cleanup work aimed at reducing phosphorous content from
2016 to 2009," said the premier.
Governor Douglas said he considers Québec to be Vermont's most important
international ally. "It continues to be a great pleasure to work with
Premier Charest. He shares my concern for several issues of mutual of
importance, and it is a particular pleasure to welcome him, and his
delegation, to the beautiful state of Vermont," Governor Douglas added.
"Together, we have identified areas were we can build on our relationship
and work cooperatively to improve and protect our environment, our
security, and our commerce-and I am pleased to report that we are making
steady progress."
Among other issues, Governor Douglas and Premier Charest agreed on open,
transparent participation in the international working group established
by the joint international committee regarding the bridge linking Alburg
and Swanton, Vermont.
The Governor and the Premier also discussed expansion of the sanitary
landfill in Coventry, Vermont, and the extension of Highway 35 in Québec,
as well as security issues, including the participation of domestic
security directors from Vermont and Québec at the Northeast Homeland
Security Directors meeting to be held in Québec City on August 5 and 6.
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