Premier Charest and Governor Douglas reviewProgress on Agreements and shared concernsBurlington, August 3, 2004-Québec Premier Jean Charest and VermontGovernor Jim Douglas met Tuesday at ECHO at the Leahy Center for LakeChamplain in Burlington, Vermont, to review progress made under the Cooperation Agreement Between the Government of Québec and theGovernment of the State of Vermont and discuss shared concerns includingsecurity, environmental issues surrounding lakes Champlain andMemphremagog, and the extension of Highway 35 in Québec.Progress has been made in many areas under the Québec-Vermont agreementsigned in December 2003, including* Establishment of a joint Québec-Vermont committee to draw upand monitor the 2004-2005 action plan* Renewal of agreements on lakes Champlain and Memphremagog, aswell as the acceleration of measures under the Missisquoi Bay phosphorousreduction agreement* Frequent information exchange meetings between the VermontState Police, the Department of Homeland Security, and Sûreté du Québec”I’m delighted to meet again with Governor Douglas to strengthen ourspecial ties to the State of Vermont, a neighbor with whom Québec has longhad a rich, solid relationship based on many shared interests. Québec andVermont share security concerns, bodies of water requiring cleanup andprotection, and a road system in need of improvement. The governor and Iare on the same wavelength regarding the importance of these issues andwhat must be done. For example, we have agreed to tighten the deadline forMissisquoi Bay cleanup work aimed at reducing phosphorous content from2016 to 2009,” said the premier.Governor Douglas said he considers Québec to be Vermont’s most importantinternational ally. “It continues to be a great pleasure to work withPremier Charest. He shares my concern for several issues of mutual ofimportance, and it is a particular pleasure to welcome him, and hisdelegation, to the beautiful state of Vermont,” Governor Douglas added.”Together, we have identified areas were we can build on our relationshipand work cooperatively to improve and protect our environment, oursecurity, and our commerce-and I am pleased to report that we are makingsteady progress.”Among other issues, Governor Douglas and Premier Charest agreed on open,transparent participation in the international working group establishedby the joint international committee regarding the bridge linking Alburgand Swanton, Vermont.The Governor and the Premier also discussed expansion of the sanitarylandfill in Coventry, Vermont, and the extension of Highway 35 in Québec,as well as security issues, including the participation of domesticsecurity directors from Vermont and Québec at the Northeast HomelandSecurity Directors meeting to be held in Québec City on August 5 and 6.###