 Good evening. I'm going to introduce or ask each of our distinguished guests to say a few words of welcome And then I will begin a brief moderated discussion with some questions that have been selected for the governor and the premier So we'll start good evening governor Shumlin and welcome to the University of Vermont. Hey, thanks so much David Thank you David Michelle UVM family to all of you for being here tonight And it's a real honor to be hosting my friend premier Clouillard here in Vermont I can tell you that We have a partnership that is critically important to the state of Vermont And when you think about our partnership, we have to remember that, you know Quebec is our single largest trading partner We do four point six billion dollars worth of trade with each other We have 475,000 trucks that costs our border every single year We have over five million visitors that cross that border, but most importantly We are intertwined not only in terms of jobs economic development our most beautiful lake which we share together our natural resources but transportation rail Energy most importantly family. It's hard to find a Vermont who doesn't have someone Who lives on one side of the border or the other that they love deeply? So I've gotten to know the premier since he was elected He's an extraordinary gift to Quebec and a great gift of Vermont And I look forward to not only a great dialogue tonight But a continuing Relationship where we build the family of Vermont and Quebec to have a very bright future So welcome and it's delight to have you here. Thank you Peter Thank You governor I'd also like to welcome premier Clouillard to the University of Vermont We're so delighted and truly honored that you're here with us this evening It's a pleasure for me to be here I just want to say first that I had for the first time a taste of a heady topper That's the right way. I think it's a significant event in a person's life in Vermont So I felt I felt that I needed to share this with you and it's really good Let me also say thanks to Peter governor shumlin for his hospitality I think as soon as we met we sensed we felt that there was Very powerful connection between the two of us like-minded people people who share Priorities who share some impatience towards ideas without execution and one thing's done And this is the case for Peter and we've been able to build on this long-standing Relationship between Quebec and Vermont that dates really years and years centuries even you could say Walking around Vermont and hearing people's names. You know that there is common history there But it's more than history now. It's a true partnership. Of course. We are important trading partners our trade has increased by 40 percent Between 2010 and 2014. I don't think there's a lot of examples of that magnitude in the northeastern regions of North America We also are linked more and more with an objective and the governor shumlin Who has great vision was kind enough to say this many times today of leaving a better place for the next generation after we Both Peter and myself move move on for other people younger people to to succeed us And of course I'm talking here about both connected subjects of energy and climate change We know that both Quebecers and Vermonters are quite attached to the environment To the need of sticking to clean renewable energy and to be part of the global Fight and struggle against climate change Under common objectives different approaches, but more and more in convergence So I want to thank Peter for this because this issue climate is the issue of our generation and our Responsibility towards the next generation and it's how we're going to handle it That's going to make a difference years and years down the line not not for the next election As you know for the next generation and I think this is why people are in politics and I'm very Fortunate that I found governor shumlin and I want to say to Vermonters that you're really lucky To have a man of this caliber as your as your governor Peter It's an honor for me to know you and lastly I want to congratulate the university for putting this symposium together this conference together We already do a lot of things together on the energy front But I think we can do much more and maybe things a little bit differently. So let's have a conversation. Thank you Well, it's fitting that we're sitting here in the Davis Center Which is I think one of the most beautiful spaces on the campus and we Affectionately refer to this space as the University of Vermont's living room. So it's fitting that we have sort of a dialogue or a conversation So that's the next portion of our program this evening I will moderate a dialogue between governor shumlin and premier quiard on the pressing topics of energy and climate change in the environment and transportation and economic development You correct me if I'm wrong, but a wece is our comments stand between them and their dinner because I'd like to get reelected It does And I've got people that are gonna flash lights at me if we go too long I'm gonna serve as the moderator during this brief discussion And I'll pose some questions that we've developed so so let's begin And I'm going to alternate between the two of you as far as who gets to go first on So the first question has to do with energy Cross-border cooperation on energy issues of course is not a new phenomenon for Quebec in Vermont We have a long history as you've just mentioned of strategic partnerships on energy and in particular relationships between Vermont utilities and hydro Quebec From each of your respective Standpoints what have been the greatest benefits of the energy relationship to date and what do you see as opportunities for further Collaboration going forward governor shumlin. Let's start with you Well Vermont has a 30-year history as you all know with Hydro Quebec one that's been absolutely critical to our energy future And I think it's worth pointing out two things that we sometimes don't talk enough about first You know our neighbors are having some real power spikes right now New Hampshire some some of our communities over there living free and die they're playing high rates We happen to be in a state that literally had two consecutive years of rate decreases and One of the reasons for that is because of our long-term Relationship with the green clean renewable power that we're bringing down from hydro Quebec Now I've got to tell you that our other neighbors have not been wise enough to do that now They're lining up. They're getting it. We're having conversations now with Northeast governors who are anxious to get on a party But that's done two things for us in Vermont and the relationship is incredibly important one is Obviously keeping us economically competitive But most importantly with an energy portfolio In terms of what premier Koulyard was just talking about our obligation to leave this planet better than the way we found it We're able because of that base low green power To really have one of the cleanest portfolios anywhere in America Second we were the first state to call hydro power Green power regardless of size and I was happy to work with Shaps Smith and others to push that through back when I was in Senate Listen, I understand difference between you know coal and oil and Hydro and solar I've never gotten quite gotten the distinction between you know big coal and little coal or Big oil and litter oil or big hydro and little hydro so we removed the distinction as a state and said hydro is green power and Size in this case, you know doesn't matter much That's been important Third it's allowed us to do what our utilities Velco and our entire Energy community is doing by building out, you know We've quadrupled the number solar panels in the state in the last five years since I've been governor quad I'm sorry five times five times the number solar bearers right down We are working together on an energy model. I know you heard about today I was talking to some of the folks from Montreal who said, you know what I said What did you come out of today? They said, you know your utility execs down here, you know They must be drinking heady-topper. I mean, they've got a business model. We've never heard utility execs indoors You know going in on bill financing Taking old homes Blowing them full of cellulose ripping out the windows and the doors making them tight Putting solar panels on a roof heat pumps in the basement storage somewhere pumping it back into the grid and cooperation with government That gets them a fair way to return That's your utility company model. I mean you we all don't realize them from on how unusual that is So the answer is our baseload green power from Hydro-Coback Allows us to build out the rest of our renewables and provide clean green affordable power That is Pamir Koulyard knows so well is going to ensure that our kids and grandkids have livable planet and ensure that for Monters have cheap available green power For on into the future. So it's a great partnership We'd be lost without Quebec in this partnership and we got to keep the partnership going. Thank you Premier we are oh, thank you Quebec made a very important strategic choice in the 70s and my predecessor Robert Bourassa I think you heard from his chief of staff John Parizella today Had to make a choice between going nuclear along the St. Lawrence as some people who are at vote Advocating them or going hydro in the north and we now know of course that he took the right decision And made the wise choice To the extent that now us your neighbor to the north is the fourth largest producer of hydro electricity in the world With expertise recognized all around the planet and a great asset for the coming century Of course, we have so much capacity that we have as we say not surpluses. I'd rather say available energy That we can use at home to attract businesses and create jobs. That's one option or that we can sell to our neighbors And we've been having a long-standing relationship with Vermont and New England on this aspect Governor Shumlin was saying rightly and we think it should be recognized again and again That these the first Vermont is the first state that officially recognized that Hydroelectricity is actually clean energy which sounds rather obvious to me But I guess there must be other reasons why you know this recognition is not universal yet But it will be there's no other choice. It's perfectly renewable. It's horrible How do you store hydroelectricity? You just let the water go up behind the dam and wait until the man comes And then you can set it or use it for your economic development And the other thing is that because of this great luck we had of having this vast resource up north It's always it also adds to the fact that 98% of our electricity now is made of renewable sources and In today's world and in tomorrow's world is tremendously important and we also insist to make a link Between this choice that we made and we will make make and obviously share the choice with our neighbors and the issue of climate change and carbon Quebec has been engaged with California on a carbon trade system Since 2013. It's the only example in the world of two sub-national states of two different countries joining forces In a carbon market and it's more and more being recognized and we are attracting new partners And we've had many conversations with Governor Shumlin and our neighbors in Canada California Oregon State of Washington. That's the way to go So the two have to be linked and it's important to know also that We are proud Canadians very happy to be both Quebecers and Canadians The Canadian narrative on energy involves of course hydrocarbons fossil fuels and it created prosperity in Canada But the other half of this narrative is renewable energy and hydroelectricity. It has to be said again and again So we hope That we can develop new markets and new opportunities with New England and Vermont in particular It's obvious though that if we are going to add capacity We need to add transmission capacity at all and I know it's an important discussion in New England Among various projects and Peter was wise enough today at our press conference Not to express a choice between the three projects right now in front of us But it's it's definitely the case that if we want to go further and extend our trade we need to grow our transmission capacity and Also, I think and I hope work hand-in-hand in the on the question of climate change and Carbon not only do we want to live a better planet for the next generation But we also know now that the words better planet means low-carbon planet And everybody has to play its role or our role and we want to do this and we want to do it with partners Such as our new England neighbors and Vermont in particular again like-minded people It's always easier to do business trade with people who think in general like you do on many aspects If you pull Quebecers and Vermonters you'll find similar attitudes on society Choices we have to make sustainable development climate Politics in general interestingly enough. So who else could be better positioned and Vermont and Quebec New England Quebec To show the world what can be done between neighbors in the interest for the interest of the whole planet the whole continent and Next generation so I hope out of this conference today Ideas will come to show us the way to grow this transmission capacity I was alluding to a little bit earlier and also help us always to connect the choice We make of the source of energy we use with broader area broader questions such as climate change and carbon Thank you. I don't often get to do this, but governor premier We're gonna run a time schedule here So I'm gonna ask the answers to be a little bit briefer so we can get through the you want to have dinner or not and I Would have health effort and both Quebec and Vermont keep people's weight Maybe we should bring the speaker to the stage here. You would tell us when to stop so you introduced the Thank you both you introduced the topic of climate change and environment And I thought we'd go there for a moment over the last few years Of course, we've had a number of natural disasters in the northeast including tropical storm Irene and massive floods across the lake Champlain basin and and hurricane sandy In the intensification of these types of natural advances unquestionably a manifestation of Climate change. So how can we work together to address these issues and I start with premier Cuiart? Well, first we have to tell our people the impact of this phenomenon here not on the other side of the planet here Today government shunlin and I signed a renewable renewed agreement on Lake Champlain and The algae question was mentioned by governor shunlin obviously related to what you just mentioned More flooding more extreme weather events lead to more problems of this kind So you have to tell people first that it's happening if they just look they will see the consequences of it and when people ask Politicians, how much is it going to cost to fight climate change the right question? How much is it costing not to fight climate change in terms of healthcare coastal erosion these type of consequences in Lake Champlain here So it's our job to do this That's the first message the second message is people should never be presented with the choice between fighting climate change and creating jobs You can do both we have companies here doing this as we speak Other this new economy could you can create new jobs and better jobs actually for our fellow citizens? And the key of course and I think we all agree in this room But it's not always the case first you have to decide that you believe that climate change exists. I Guess maybe unless we have a dissenter here I guess probably we all agree on this and the main cause not the only cause the main cause of this is human carbon and Therefore that the price must be attached to carbon So I must really recognize president Obama's initiative in showing US citizens the impact and the cost of climate change and Pushing some initiatives one of which of course ended up here in New England with the original greenhouse gas initiative that I hope we can link in some way before With our carbon market So only I'm convinced that only when people accept our citizens accept That it will not be to their detriment That if we engage in this struggle that we can actually create a better life for them Not only quality of life in the environment, but economically also positive Then we will win and we have to repeat this day and day and day Thank you Governor Shumlin You can imagine the joy that I felt the first time I met Premier Couillard and we were up in New Hampshire and you know I know we have gubernatorial elections frequently in Vermont every two years Let's remember I've been governor for a little over four and I've had three premieres. So I came to meet the new one and That basically was the first thing he said to me what he just said to you and it's so rare to find public officials who Understand and are committed to the kind of progress that this premier is and we're in it together So the only thing I would add to what he just said is practically the Disasters that we face whether it's Irene or the other flooding a few years ago when we the highest lake levels ever recorded in the history of Lake Champlain You know They're at the receiving They're next and as soon as it heads down the Rochelle. Oh Quebec are getting flooded out of their homes They're facing the same erosion issues the same environmental challenges. So we are intertwined on this opportunity to create jobs lead and Put our probe the best of what we're all doing together Into a package that we can all not only get behind as a state is in a province But spread across the country involve our reggie partners as the premier just said and Involve anyone that can come along. So it's a job crater. It's incredibly important I think we're on a right track. Our partnership is critical not only to our energy future, but to jobs So I'd like to turn next to Transportation another theme and I have two smaller questions around transportation the first one and we'll start with Governor Shumlin the first one what transportation projects being developed in either Quebec or Vermont would produce economic and Environmental benefits to both Quebec and Vermont governor. Well, first of all the EV Stations that we've committed to install from Montreal to Burlington to Boston by the way We've got about 23 in already and we want to extend all the way down some of her You know the high-speed chargers some are the older model, but we're getting it done second the Rail corridor higher speed rail between New York to Montreal with a spurt of Boston with a Western ring coming up The north-western part of the Vermont meeting here in Burlington. That is critical President Obama and Prime Minister Harper signed an agreement a week ago That's going to allow us we hope to and the Premier and I agreed today that we're going to put our a teams I'm trying to get through the rest of the struggles there so that we can literally have Instant border crossing at what do you call it Union station main station in Montreal central station in Montreal and Bring back to Montreal or from New York to Montreal all the way through Vermont. There'll be a huge help to Third and finally 835 and the improvements there is critical the Premier was good enough to invite me up to a ribbon cutting of a big section Of that for those of you that travel the Montreal often Yeah, I'm responsible for your speed or travel speed of your travel Truthfully the premier has been great in not only getting that project done But committing to get the rest of it done and that's going to help those 475,000 trucks those for those five million dollar tourists That are cruising through those borders so transportation corridor moving it to green clean electric train rail and Frankly speedier safer travel is all critical to our economic and social future Thank you Since you brought up a 35 I'm going to combine the two questions on transportation. So we'll also include the freight and passenger projects as well Premier well either five is a is an economically important project for us It's not only another highway to to complete It's it's part of what we need to have the highest level possible trade possible between the US and Canada So it's it's up there in the list of priorities But it also connects to our previous Discussion the main source of our greenhouse gases and I would suspect this is the same here is transportation Heavy transportation trucks in particular. So just to give you an example of the power of a carbon trading system We have a company actually part of the delegation out of the I don't know if they are in the room tonight transport Robert are you around? It's a big trucking company in Quebec that is part of course. They have to be part of the carbon trade So they had to decide and this is the power of the of the system Do I am I going to pay for credits every year and hurt my bottom line? Or am I going to be smarter and invest in new technology so that I don't need to buy the credit So they they are right now transforming all their engines from diesel to energy Cutting significantly their emissions. So they made the right choice and this type of policy Puts the burden on the shoulders of people who emit in house gases as they have to make the decisions I'm glad that you mentioned electric vehicle. We have such a great opportunity to work Together on this because the big what is the big question of electric car is the autonomy and the battery And when we can bring the price down when people have more than 200 kilometers of autonomy When they have a reliable battery then you'll see the adoption going up and we have great universities great research centers on both sides of the border And this is also something we should be working on and eventually this Line of chain of charging stations that you mentioned is good. I hope going to reach to Boston one day I really hope that we discuss this once and I hope we can do this so I can have a vision I think we will see it of families driving from Montreal to Boston with electric cars and being able to charge our cars along the way That's a very significant contribution. We would make together on the on this issue So the the last question and theme has to do with economic development Vermont is known for being an innovative in an entrepreneurial state and we're committed to fostering good ideas and helping them to grow into successful businesses There's so many promising and exciting ideas in the fields of energy and environment many are coming from our top universities and Many forward-looking businesses So how might we work together on enhancing these initiatives to foster economic development on both sides of our border? Premier we are I think first we have to boast a little bit more People know in Quebec that you know Vermont is a fantastic tourist destination Great place to visit for a weekend But people don't know enough about the importance of the size of our trade relationship And I was quite impressed today Governor Shumlin and I had a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce In which we heard the innovative part of what you were just mentioning and it happens to be also something We're we're putting up there in our list of priorities the new economy Digital economy our young entrepreneurs that are living and we live in different world that the world that we know today And we have a fantastic ecosystem and we all know that politicians Can act on the economy not by creating jobs themselves. It's a big mistake that politicians always do I am going to create jobs. No, you make it so that the economy create jobs and entrepreneurs create jobs by providing the right environment fiscal regulation, etc and and a choice of priorities So we agreed that we would increase the level of our business meetings between our companies First tell more what we do say more what we do and again as I said boast a little bit more You should do this and make make it so that our companies meet on a regular basis To work on projects. I know this has been happening here today and will happen tomorrow I think we could certainly upgrade this to a higher level Thank you very much Governor Shumlin, you know, I think Premier Gulliard hit it on ahead. We had a great conversation today I want to thank the Chamber GBIC and the folks were that were present but bottom line is We have to do a better job of marketing Vermont not only as the best place to ski, travel, eat food, recreate, drink beer and so forth but also as an innovative job center and there are ways that we can do that where we are Enhancing job growth in Quebec and enhancing job growth in Vermont and their premier and I have committed to Put our heads together to make sure that in the next six months we use the power of the Premier's office and the governor's office to facilitate Much more in-depth conversations to market the partnership in terms of jobs between Quebec in Vermont, I think we're gonna make some great progress. So I'm grateful to have a partner To do that with and we're gonna use our energies to to try and be more proactive and more innovative in that regard Maybe a short addition short. Don't worry. I was impressed at the meeting with the Chamber of Commerce That the representative that the technical college was there is the first time I see this usually when you are Attending Chamber of Commerce meetings, which is normal. We have businesses facing businesses But to have the technical college representative there shows that you know That training is the key as I was saying today. We don't have an unemployment issue anymore We have an employee issue and in order for our young people to Take the jobs not only of today of tomorrow We really need to work much work much harder on training and I think we could even have links between your system of Professional and vocational training and what we do so that young people can work With the same type of training on both sides of the border. That would be also an interesting project to push forward He was actually there because the speaker's cut his budget so badly. He was hungry. He wasn't there for the But just never get cut they get adjusted Thank you both very much for the answers