Brian Dubie, Premier Charest discuss future of Vermont-Quebec relations

In their first conversation since November 2, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Vermont Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie talked by phone late Wednesday about the future of Quebec and Vermont relations, as Vermont’s Governor-elect Peter Shumlin prepares to take office on January 6, 2011.
Shumlin has asked Dubie to act as his liaison to Quebec.
Dubie said, ‘Premier Charest and I covered all areas of collaboration between Vermont and Quebec: energy, homeland security, Lake Champlain and Lake Memphramagog, cultural exchange, commerce, road and rail transportation, and more.’
It has been nearly eight years since Dubie attended Charest’s 2003 swearing-in ceremony in Quebec City, as the only invited American elected official.
‘Much has been done since then, under the leadership of Governor Jim Douglas and Premier Charest,’ Dubie said, ‘and the Premier and I agreed that there’s still so much left to do. I look forward to assisting Governor-elect Shumlin in paving the way for future success in a way that's positive for the people of Vermont and our favorite cousins, the people of Quebec.’
Dubie lost a bid to be Vermont's next governor to Shumlin in tight election held November 2.
Along with Governor Douglas, Dubie has focused much of his energies in rebuilding and building relations with Quebec. The January 1997 ice storm, which knocked out power to much of northern Vermont and to large portions of Quebec, put a strain on relations between the cross border neighbors. After Douglas and Dubie were elected in 2002, they sought to repair relations and grow economic ties. Vermont utilities earlier this year signed a new, long term deal with Hydro-Quebec. Quebec companies, such as Revision Eyewear in Essex, recently have located plants in Vermont.