The premiers of Quebec and Ontario met with the governors of eight U.S. states on Saturday as part of a three-day conference on the future of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region.

The goal of the conference is for the leaders to work together on environmental protection and encouraging economic growth.

Speaking this morning, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne highlighted the need for regional co-operation on environmental issues.

Wynne announced she would sign two new agreements with Ohio and Michigan to combat invasive species and the threat of algae blooms in the Great Lakes.

She also suggested a regional partnership to fight climate change, and invited the U.S. states to join Ontario, Quebec and California in a so-called cap-and-trade system aimed at cutting greenhouse gases.

Michigan governor Rick Snydor called for more aggressive action on combating invasive species such as the Asian carp. He also thanked Canada for its partnership in building the future Windsor-Detroit bridge that he says will increase cross-border trade.

The conference continues in Quebec City through Sunday.