Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that he has accepted an invitation from Canada’s Atlantic Premiers to join Team Canada Atlantic, a trade mission that will highlight the expertise of Canada’s Atlantic exporters and boost trade and investment between the Atlantic provinces and New England. The invitation was extended by Prince Edward Island Premier Pat Binns who is coordinating the regional trade mission.

Building on the success of a 1999 Team Atlantic trade mission to the region, the Prime Minister and International Trade Minister Pierre S. Pettigrew will join Premiers Binns, Brian Tobin, John Hamm, Bernard Lord, and business representatives on the Massachusetts portion of the mission on May 8, 2000. The mission will also visit Rhode Island and Connecticut.

"One of the main goals of our government has been to create jobs in all regions of Canada by giving our exporters exposure in key markets," said the Prime Minister. "Atlantic Canada is home to world-class businesses and highly skilled workers that specialize in the new economy, and is a low-cost investment location. I am pleased to join the Atlantic Premiers in building stronger links with New England."

During the mission, there will be a Team Atlantic Forum, where the Prime Minister will engage in a Question and Answer session with business people.

Two-way trade between Atlantic Canada and New England was $4.9 billion in 1999. Canadian two-way trade with New England was almost $26 billion, a figure greater than Canada’s trade with such major trade partners as Japan, the United Kingdom and France.

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