In March 1968 the three premiers of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island announced that they were sponsoring a special study of Maritime union, including the possibilities of economic and other forms of regional co-ordination and co-operation. Dr. J.J. Deutsch, principal of Queen's University, formerly chair of the Economic Council of Canada agreed to act as special advisor. He was an economist who had worked with the federal departments of Finance and External Affairs and had been involved with numerous royal commissions and international organizations including GATT and the IMF.

F.R. Drummie, economic advisor to the New Brunswick government was appointed Executive Director of the study. He was also an economist, a graduate of the University of New Brunswick and a Rhodes scholar who had worked for the Ganong Company in St. Stephen before beginning to work for the newly elected Liberal government of New Brunswick in 1961. The purpose of the study was to provide a basis for serious political discussion of the possibilities of union. It was not intended to recommend or reject union, but to identify those areas where improvements could be achieved through integration, specialization, co-ordination and co-operation.

The study examined written submissions and held public hearings. It also conducted specialized research in specific areas. These areas included general government, development policy, social policy, intergovernmental relations, and a survey of professional associations and societies. The final report of the study was published in October 1970.