AUGUSTA — State Rep. Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, on Friday submitted a legislative proposal to strengthen Maine’s educational relationship with Canada.

The proposal, submitted to the first session of the 128th Legislature, would create a tuition exchange program between Maine public universities and with participating Canadian provinces and their educational institutions.

Fecteau, a member of the Legislature’s Labor, Research, Commerce and Economic Development Committee, said Monday he believes the program will draw a younger generation of people to Maine, which several Maine House candidates emphasized as a priority in November’s election.

“I think the idea is it gives an opportunity for young Canadians to come study here for however long — four years, two years for graduate school or community college, whatever — give them the opportunity to live and potentially work here and maybe even set up their roots here after they graduate,” Fecteau said.

According to 2015 U.S. Census data, 18.8 percent of Maine’s population consisted of those 65 and older, a rise of nearly 3 percent from 2010. According to the Bangor Daily News, Maine saw a jump in median age from 43.9 percent in 2013 to 44.2 percent in 2014.

“I think just to explore opportunities to think outside the box to attract new Mainers from outside the state,” Fecteau said.

Tuition reciprocity agreements between the U.S. and Canada are not unheard of — Minnesota residents are eligible to receive reciprocity benefits at 10 participating universities in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Likewise, residents of Manitoba can receive in-state tuition at any public university in Minnesota.

Data from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education shows 86 Minnesota residents attended postsecondary institutions in Manitoba in the 2014-2015 academic year. The same year, 40 Manitoba residents attended Minnesota public colleges and universities.

If Fecteau’s proposal is approved by the Legislature — and with further approval from Canadian officials — students from Canada would be eligible to receive reciprocity benefits at any of Maine’s public colleges and universities, including those in the University of Maine System and at the state’s community colleges.

Fecteau said it would only be natural for Maine to establish connections with neighboring Canadian province Quebec, and hopefully with other provinces as well.

“I think it just makes sense,” he said. “Especially in the case of Minnesota, their proximity to Manitoba made it a natural connection to them and, in our case, our proximity to Quebec is sort of a natural connection to us.”

“I think our proximity to Quebec is critical and to not take advantage of that to build a bridge from Quebec to Maine would be doing our state a disservice,” Fecteau continued, saying there would also be economic benefits from increasing travel between the two countries.

Fecteau, who will be serving his second term in the Legislature following his re-election last month, said he hasn’t yet received feedback from his colleagues, but remains hopeful the proposal will be well-received.

“I think from my experience the last two years, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are looking for new and innovative ways to move our state forward, and I think there will be a warm reception for this idea to accomplish that,” he said. “I’m hopeful all in all it’ll shake out to be worth the investment, or potentially there won’t be a significant cost attached to that.”

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].