EDMONTON - Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have struck a deal to explore ways to jointly drum up business and develop communities along their shared boundary.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Dwight Ball of Newfoundland made the announcement at the premiers meeting in Edmonton.

Their plan focuses on development of the Labrador Trough and the extension of Highway 138 on the lower north shore of Quebec.

The two governments plan to have an agreement in place by the end of the year.

Several mining operations are located on the boundary between the two provinces.

Ball says there is room to jointly develop projects in mining, as well as in training and broadband networks.