Energy, tourism among talking points during New England meeting, says Hogan

Eastern Canadian premiers met with northeastern U.S. governors once again on Monday amid ongoing trade tension between the two countries.

But the meeting itself was amicable, according to Newfoundland and Labrador Premier John Hogan, who says there's still interest in economic co-operation.

U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies and their impacts were topics of discussion, especially on the blow to tourism south of the border.

"You could really hear it in their voices and how they were talking," Hogan told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show on Tuesday.

"They were just sort of asking us to recognize that it's one person doing this damage, that Americans still really much love Canadians. They want us to help them in their economic situation as well."

Hogan, along with Doug Ford of Ontario, Tim Houston of Nova Scotia, Susan Holt of New Brunswick and Rob Lantz of Prince Edward Island travelled to Boston for the meeting at the invitation of some northeastern U.S. governors in a bid to navigate Trump's trade war. 

Hogan said other topics on the minds of governors were Canadian energy projects.

"There is an opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador to continue to work with their neighbours and in particular in the field of developing more energy in our province and transmitting it somehow," said Hogan.

He also spoke optimistically about the new Churchill Falls plan that would increase hydroelectric production and how it could supply the energy needs of the northeastern U.S. in the future.

"They will have an increased ability to get extra energy, not from Canada generally, but specifically from Newfoundland and Labrador," he said.

He said he would welcome talks about wind energy, as well as natural gas.

Earlier this month the province released its natural gas resources assessments.

Sending a message

Hogan said the Canadian premiers got the message that Americans still "love" Canadians, but they couldn't commit to encouraging more tourists to head to the U.S.

Since Trump instigated a trade war, Canadians have been boycotting travel down south. The provincial government has previously spoken about encouraging more travellers to visit Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Hogan said the number of tourists coming to the province hasn't fallen like they have in the U.S.

"I think that we see Canadians from across the country traveling to Newfoundland and Labrador rather than coming down to the States," said Hogan.

"So certainly, we're happy that our tourism numbers are still as good or better than they have been in the past."

Of the governors who attended Monday's meeting, only one was a Republican — Vermont's Phil Scott — which raises the question on how effective the meeting could be in swaying Trump's mind.

Hogan said Canadians are sending a message to Americans, as well as Trump, by not travelling to the country or buying their products.

"I think they need to step up their messaging to their constituents here in New England if they want to make any change with regards to what's happening in Washington," he said.

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