Ontario and Quebec held their second joint meeting of their Cabinets on Friday September 11, 2009 in Toronto.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Quebec Premier Jean Charest.

The meeting focused on delivering results on two key issues: the economy and climate change.

• The provinces signed the Ontario-Quebec Trade and Cooperation Agreement that creates opportunities for more robust trade between the provinces, helps create and sustain jobs and makes the region more attractive to international investment.
• Ontario and Quebec will continue their work on a "cap and trade" program to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fight climate change, and be compatible with trading systems emerging in North America and elsewhere in the world.

In addition, the Cabinets also discussed:

• Their strong commitment to moving forward on a high-speed rail link between Quebec City and Windsor based on its significant potential to be a catalyst for economic growth not only in the two provinces, but also for the rest of Canada.  Given the corridor's importance to the national economy, the project will also require the support of the federal government.
• Support for the federal government's efforts in pursuing trade agreements with the European Union, and with the United States where issues related to the impacts of the Buy American policy need to be addressed.

Ontario and Quebec are building on the foundations established in the 2008 joint meeting of their Cabinets, continuing to work together to create a strong regional economy and a strong Canada. The two provinces are home to 20 million Canadians or more than 60 per cent of the country's population. Together, both provinces are responsible for approximately 56 per cent of Canada's total GDP and more than 55 per cent of inter-provincial exports.

The Cabinets also discussed their respective fiscal outlooks and Premiers agreed to ask all federal party leaders to commit that efforts to balance the federal budget will not result in reduced transfers to provinces and territories.

Agreements and Discussions at the Joint Meeting of Cabinets

The Ontario-Quebec Trade and Cooperation Agreement

The Ontario-Quebec Trade and Cooperation Agreement will deepen a common economic zone in central Canada that will make it easier to work and do business in the region. Providing greater opportunities for robust trade between the two jurisdictions by promoting collaboration, reducing trade barriers and improving labour mobility, the Agreement covers several sectors, including financial services, energy cooperation, economic cooperation and regulatory cooperation. This agreement will not only reduce barriers, but will also strengthen the cooperation between the two provinces by establishing new mechanisms such as a private sector advisory committee to support the new Ministerial Council.

The Agreement will help strengthen the Ontario-Quebec economic region not only within North America, but internationally as well. And by working collaboratively, both provinces will be better positioned to capitalize on new opportunities in an increasingly competitive international marketplace. For example, business owners from both provinces will be able to access regulation changes under consideration by both jurisdictions, allowing them to participate in the consultation process and anticipate and adjust their practices accordingly. As well, under the joint innovation corridors initiative, Ontario and Quebec will work together to assist green technology companies grow their business, and to attract new companies to the corridor. 

Ontario-Quebec Climate Change and Cap-and-Trade Initiative

Ontario and Quebec moved forward on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a climate change cap-and-trade initiative signed at last year's joint meeting of their Cabinets.

Building on this MOU, Ontario and Quebec are taking active steps to move forward on cap and trade through the recent introduction of legislation and through work with the Western Climate Initiative. Both provinces will be present in Copenhagen to participate in the international climate change negotiations taking place in December 2009.

Cross-Border Policing

Ontario and Quebec signed a resolution committing the two provinces to introducing reciprocal legislation that will allow for seamless policing across their borders.  If passed, the legislation would establish the mechanism whereby the two provinces can grant police officer status to a police officer from each others' jurisdiction who is required to enter their provinces to perform police duties. It will also address issues of police oversight, discipline and indemnification for civil liability.

Ontario and Quebec have been working together for a number of years to develop reciprocal cross-border policing legislation.  The proposed legislation would enable police officers from other provinces and territories in Canada to be appointed as police officers in Ontario and Quebec.