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Quebec's growing production of hydro electric energy, and efforts to strengthen economic ties with northeastern U.S. states, are some of the questions Groulx ADQ MNA Linda Lapointe has been tackling as one of the elected representatives from Quebec at the National Conference of State Legislatures in the U.S. Lapointe, who first became a member of the National Assembly in the 2007 general election, was one of several MNAs appointed to a delegation that represents the province at the NCSL, which is an inter-parliamentary organization made up primarily of elected state representatives in the U.S.
U.S.-Quebec relations
The NCSL is a body established in 1975 to serve the members of the state legislatures of the United States. The NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing issues. It regarded as an effective and respected advocate primarily for the interests of the states in the U.S. It has three objectives: to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures; to promote policy innovation and communication among state legislatures, and to ensure state legislatures a strong, cohesive voice in the U.S. federal system.
An offshoot of the Council of State Governments, CSG representatives sit on NCSL's executive committee and NCSL representatives sit on CSG's executive committee and governing board. The organization is led by a U.S. legislator who serves as its president and by a legislative staffer who serves as wtaff chair. They deal mostly with international trade issues involving Canada, which provides the U.S. with $1 billion a day in cross-border trade. While all other members of the NCSL's executive-committee are state legislators, Quebec is the only international partner to have a regular seat on the executive-committee.
They need clean energy
"We talk a lot about energy — clean energy," Lapointe said about the discussions she has had with NCSL members. "And the good part is that our neighbours, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and also New York State, they are our neighbours and we can have many ways to sell them energy. I think this is the big thing. Americans are looking for clean energy and we stand to sell them lots with Hydro Quebec … Clean energy is something that can help us in Quebec for economic development. If we can sell more energy, I think this is a good way to solve financial problems we have in Quebec … If we can have more exportation, we can increase our revenue. We have to increase revenue in Quebec because health care is very difficult to maintain because people are aging.
"We share the same issues about energy, education, security and also economic development," she added. "We are all close together on these. So we have to work together … Highways — they have the same problems as we have. Their highway infrastructure is about 40 to 50 years old, so they have the same problem. It's aging. And also (highway infrastructure in) the northeast U.S. is aging more … Boston and New York and Philadelphia are the oldest cities of the northeast and of North America." According to Lapointe, U.S. states' problems are similar to those of Quebec when it comes to relations with federal authorities. The situation is sometimes referred to as 'downloading.' "They have the same problems that we have about the federal and provinces or states," she says.
Common problems
"The federal gives them some responsibilities, but they don't give out the money that goes with the responsibility. They have the same problem, and here in Quebec we have the same thing, We get some responsibilities from Canada, but also we don't receive the money that goes with it. But we have the same problem in municipalities like Rosemere and also Boisbriand and Ste-Thérèse. The province gives the cities some responsibilities without the money, but this is a trend in North America. This is bad." Lapointe says U.S. states share another problem with Quebec — a rising high school dropout rate.
"So we have talked about this to find somewhere they've been able to find solutions. It maybe will help us to find new solutions." According to Lapointe, economic prosperity may actually play a role in driving up the high school dropout rate, since the availability of employment to young people still in their teens works as an incentive to leave high school in order to earn money. Nonetheless, neglect by parents of their children within families is also a major contributing factor, she adds.
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