Québec City, Quebec, Canada – Governor Josh Shapiro attended the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP) Leadership Summit this weekend to strengthen ties with critical trading partners in Canada and neighboring states across the Great Lakes region.
Speaking at the Summit, the Governor emphasized the values, economic ties and opportunities, and shared environment that unite the region — and reaffirmed Pennsylvania’s commitment to collaboration at a moment when reckless federal rhetoric and trade policies have strained U.S.–Canada relations.
“While our nations may face challenges at the federal level, the people of our states and provinces still share deep bonds — rooted in freedom, democracy, and opportunity,” said Governor Shapiro. “When we work together to grow our economies, protect our Great Lakes, and welcome visitors across our borders, all of our states and provinces benefit. That’s what this organization is all about — getting stuff done together for the people we serve and I’m honored to serve as the next Chair of the GSGP.”
The GSGP includes the governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in the United States, along with the premiers of Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Together, these leaders represent more than 111 million people and one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world.
At the Summit, Governor Shapiro was elected Chair of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers for the next two years. Indiana Governor Mike Braun was elected Vice Chair. As Chair, Governor Shapiro will host the next Leadership Summit in 2027 in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Canada remains Pennsylvania’s largest international trading partner, accounting for $14.51 billion in exports in 2024 — more than 27 percent of all Pennsylvania exports — and $14.21 billion in imports, or over 11 percent of all goods imported to the Commonwealth. Ontario and Quebec are Pennsylvania’s leading provincial trading partners, making up 86 percent of all trade with Canada.
Governor Shapiro met individually with Premier François Legault of Quebec, Premier Doug Ford of Ontario, and the CEOs of Alstom Americas and Nova Bus — two major Canadian companies with significant business in Pennsylvania. The Governor’s meetings focused on expanding trade, creating economic opportunities for Pennsylvanians, and encouraging more foreign direct investment in the Commonwealth.
Tourism also remains a key pillar of Pennsylvania’s relationship with Canada. More than half a million Canadians visited Pennsylvania in 2024 — over one-third of all international visitors to the Commonwealth — supporting the 500,000 jobs and $84 billion in economic activity driven by the state’s tourism industry. However, Canadian travel to Pennsylvania — particularly to Philadelphia — has declined this year, reversing years of growth in international visitation amid shifting federal rhetoric and trade tensions. Governor Shapiro reaffirmed Pennsylvania’s commitment to remaining a welcoming, open destination for Canadian travelers.
The Summit focused on advancing a regional Agenda for Growth, with new initiatives on trade, transportation, and tourism; the launch of an agricultural innovation program; progress toward the goal of planting 250 million trees; and expansion of GSGP’s 100 percent Fish initiative.
Founded as the Council of Great Lakes Governors and expanded in 2015 to include the premiers of Ontario and Quebec, the GSGP brings together leaders from across the Great Lakes region to collaborate on shared priorities. The last Pennsylvania Governor to serve as Chair was Governor Tom Ridge (1996–2001).
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