Press Release: 8/10/2026
Premiers, Governors Meeting to Strengthen New England Partnerships
7 August 2026 | 12:41 PM
Premier Tim Houston and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey sign a memorandum of understanding on offshore wind at the Massachusetts State House in Boston on February 4. (Province of Nova Scotia / File)
Premier Tim Houston will join other eastern Canadian premiers in Vermont next week to discuss collaboration and opportunities with New England governors.
The 47th annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canada Premiers (NEG-ECP) takes place Sunday, August 9, and Monday, August 10, with a focus on regional resilience, security and economic co-operation.
New England remains one of Nova Scotia's closest economic partners. The meetings provide an opportunity to discuss the impacts of U.S. tariffs on communities and businesses on both sides of the border, identify practical ways to strengthen regional resilience and reinforce longstanding relationships.
“Eastern Canada and New England have always been close partners, friends and neighbours; now is a critical time for us to come together to strengthen existing ties, address shared interests and strategize on long-term priorities,” said Premier Houston. “Nova Scotia has a lot to offer – from energy and critical minerals to our world-class products. As Premier, I’m committed to diversifying our trade relationships, becoming more self-reliant and planning for the future with one of our closest trade allies.”
The aerospace, energy and defence sectors will be in the spotlight throughout the conference, with a focus on shared systems and supply chains. Sessions will also explore shared economic opportunities and ways to remain highly competitive amid geopolitical uncertainty.
In February, Premier Houston and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed an agreement to work toward Nova Scotia supplying the state with clean energy from offshore wind.
Quick Facts:
- NEG-ECP includes 11 member jurisdictions: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont
- these provinces and states have worked together co-operatively to address shared interests since 1973
- in 2025, Nova Scotia exports to the New England states reached almost $1.2 billion; imports from this region were over $57 million.
- mission delegates include Premier Houston; Nicole LaFosse Parker, Chief of Staff and General Counsel, Premier’s Office; Tracey Taweel, Executive Deputy Minister, Department of Intergovernmental Affairs; and senior staff members
Additional Resources
More information on NEG-ECP: https://cap-cpma.ca/negecp/
Nova Scotia offshore wind: https://novascotia.ca/offshore-wind/
News release – Nova Scotia, Massachusetts Sign Agreement for Offshore Wind Energy: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/02/04/nova-scotia-massachusetts-sign-agreement-offshore-wind-energy