Maine needs to double down on its Canadian ties | Douglas Rooks

Douglas Rooks Releases New Biography of Former Governor Ken Curtis and Reflects on Maine‑Canada Ties

Portland, Maine – Maine’s veteran editor and columnist Douglas Rooks, who has written for the state’s newspapers for more than four decades, has published a new book, Transformational: The Life and Times of Gov. Ken Curtis. The biography, now on sale at local book retailers, offers an in‑depth look at the former governor’s career and his efforts to strengthen Maine’s relationship with Canada. Rooks welcomes readers’ comments at his email address, provided on the book’s cover.

While the book is a biographical portrait, Rooks recently used the occasion to travel to Canada. He spent a week touring the Maritime provinces—New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia—to compare their economies, cultures, and landscapes with those of Maine.

Similarities and Differences in Size and Population

New Brunswick is roughly the same land area as Maine but has a population of just under 900,000 compared with Maine’s 1.4 million residents. The province’s largest cities—Moncton, Saint John, and the capital Fredericton—each have populations that exceed Portland’s. The region’s coast is dominated by Acadian forests that echo Washington County’s pinelands, while Prince Edward Island’s economy, heavily based on farming and tourism, resembles Aroostook County’s potato‑growing heritage.

Rooks noted several recent changes in the region. A bridge opened in 1997 to replace the former ferry service to Prince Edward Island. In 2009 a U.S. Customs station was established just four miles upriver from Calais, Maine, while Canadian customs facilities remain downtown. These changes have eased cross‑border travel and commerce for residents and businesses on both sides of the border.

The 2025 Canadian Federal Election

The Canadian political landscape has shifted dramatically since Rooks last visited. In April 2025, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney led the Liberal Party in a federal election following the resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Pundits had called the race “unwinnable” for the Liberals, and Carney had been expected to lose to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Instead, the Liberals secured their first majority since 2019. The outcome has raised Carney’s profile on the world stage, positioning him as a potential key player in international diplomacy.

The election also drew attention to ongoing separatist movements. In Alberta, a referendum on independence was held, with 76 % of voters rejecting the proposal. Separatist sentiment had previously been most prominent in Quebec, where a former Liberal prime minister from the province, Pierre Trudeau, once defended the country against a separatist movement by the Parti Québécois.

Trade Tensions and President Trump

President Donald Trump’s approach to Canada has been a source of tension. Upon returning to office, Trump publicly referred to Canada as the “51st state” and accused the nation of “defrauding” the United States of trade. After a trade war that was overturned by the Supreme Court, Trump launched a second trade dispute against Canada. The result has been a growing sense of unity among Canadians and a more divided electorate in the United States, though Americans remain generally welcoming to Canadians. As Rooks observed, many Americans view the current disputes as a temporary challenge.

Maine’s Economic Ties with Canada

Maine’s economy has benefited from Canadian investment, particularly in sectors that have suffered from declining domestic demand. Companies such as Irving, which operates forest‑product and petroleum businesses, and McCain, a frozen‑food producer, are the largest foreign investors in eastern Maine and Aroostook County. These investments have helped sustain rural economies that might otherwise have faced more severe job losses following the decline of the U.S. paper industry.

Rooks highlighted that these ties, which had been strengthened during Gov. Ken Curtis’s tenure, could provide a buffer against the economic impact of trade wars. He also noted that while some Canadian companies have viewed U.S. trade policies as a threat, their continued presence in Maine has helped keep the region’s economy resilient.

Ken Curtis’s Legacy of Canadian Relations

The biography details how Gov. Ken Curtis, who served as Maine’s governor in the 1980s and later as the state’s ambassador to Canada, actively pursued stronger relations with his northern neighbor. Rooks notes that Curtis sought to establish a public power authority that would purchase inexpensive hydropower from the newly constructed Churchill Falls project in Newfoundland. This proposal faced opposition from the Commonwealth of Maine Power and Bangor Hydro.

Curtis also forged a close friendship with Richard Hatfield, the longest‑serving premier of New Brunswick, and signed numerous agreements that are still in force today. He established an Office of Canadian Relations within Maine’s government, a move that many later governors did not continue.

Future Diplomatic Directions

Recently, Maine Governor Janet Mills travelled to Ireland, where she visited both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, in an effort to open new markets for Maine products in a post‑Brexit European context. Rooks suggested that a similar strategy could be applied to Canada, especially as Maine seeks to enhance trade and cultural exchanges with its maritime neighbors.

He further proposes the idea of a “confederation” of Atlantic provinces and U.S. states, with Maine as a charter participant. Potential partners would include Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Such a confederation, Rooks argues, could help coordinate economic and cultural initiatives across the region, positioning Maine not as a peripheral state but as a central hub for Atlantic cooperation.

A Look Back at Canada’s Confederation

Rooks concludes by drawing parallels between Canada’s historical path to nationhood and the current opportunity for deeper Maine‑Canadian collaboration. He notes that Canada’s confederation began with the Charlottetown Conference in 1864, an event that occurred during the American Civil War and achieved national unity without a revolution. By exploring similar cooperative structures, Maine could foster a new era of cross‑border partnership.

For those interested in learning more about Douglas Rooks’ new biography and his observations, copies are now available at local bookstores and online, and feedback can be sent to his email address.