LEADERS PLEDGE TO PROTECT GREAT LAKES WHILE GIVING INTERNATIONAL TRADE A BOOST

Premier Kathleen Wynne, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and other provincial and state leaders agreed Friday in Windsor on a number of actions to protect and promote the Great Lakes region.

Meeting on the first day of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers 2017 Leadership Summit, the leaders focused on strengthening the region’s $6-trillion economy and safeguarding the world’s largest freshwater system.

“By working together across the region and across our borders, we are creating exciting opportunities for our people and businesses and building greater prosperity,” said Wynne, who attended a press conference with Snyder at the Art Gallery of Windsor.

“We are also making sure we balance this economic growth with responsible environmental management so we can protect the health and vitality of our waterways for future generations.”

Some of the pending actions announced include:

Creating a worldwide centre for the development of connected and autonomous transportation, including ships.

Opening export promotion offices in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South Korea.

Launching a U.S. regional tourism marketing program in China, the world’s fastestgrowing market for tourists to North America. Wynne and Snyder will be joined at the three-day summit, which continues in Detroit Saturday and Sunday, by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Also attending are highranking representatives from Quebec, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania.