Massachusetts Governor Healey Courts Canada for New Trade Deals

Former Obama Administration official and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel once said, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste." Fellow Democrat and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is heeding that advice to create new opportunities for the Commonwealth.

As the trade and tariff battle rages between President Donald Trump and the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Healey and the other northeastern governors hope to expand trade with several eastern Canadian premiers, with whom they already enjoy a solid working relationship.

The official Healey-Driscoll website says, "Six northeastern governors, led by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, formally invited Canadian premiers to a convening in Boston to discuss the impacts of President Trump's tariffs and how American and Canadian leaders can continue to work together to maintain strong trade relations that benefit local businesses and residents."

The site says, "Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Maine Governor Janet Mills, New York Governor Kathy Hochul Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee, and Vermont Governor Phil Scott extended the invitation to the Premiers of six Canadian provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec."

Canada is Massachusetts' number one trading partner, according to Healey.

"For generations, we have enjoyed a strong partnership and a healthy exchange of energy, lumber, dairy, cars and car parts, seafood, and more," Healey said.

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Details of the convening between Northeast Governors and Canadian Premiers will be forthcoming, according to the website.

State House News Service reported that "Healey last fall co-hosted the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference at Boston University, where officials discussed regional collaboration to tackle climate change."