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The PNWER delegation at the Yukon Legislative Assembly Chamber during the PNWER Capital Visit to Whitehorse, YK. More than 50 delegates attended PNWER's Arctic Caucus in Whitehorse May 17-19, which addressed key issues of tourism, research and innovative aboriginal economic development examples in the region.
Formed in 2009, this partnership between Alaska, Northwest Territories and Yukon provides a forum to share information, discuss issues of mutual concern, and identify areas for collaboration between the three jurisdictions and the rest of North America.
Delegates included legislators and business leaders from Yukon, Alaska and Northwest Territories, as well as from Washington, Oregon and B.C.
Speakers came from the public and private sectors, as well as academia.
The Arctic Caucus has explored tourism, trade, resource development and transportation challenges, among other issues.
"The Caucus is in a good position to develop and highlight best practices and innovative solutions to challenges, solutions that should also be spread throughout the region," said Rep. Bob Herron, leader of the Alaska delegation.
Minister David Ramsay, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for the Government of Northwest Territories, has been the chair of the Arctic Caucus during the past year. The caucus hosted a major meeting in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC in March.
"The Arctic Caucus has proven to be a valuable forum for identifying key issues in our northern regions," Minister Ramsay, said. "Collaboration is crucial in giving us a stronger voice to bring these issues forward to other governments and to improve our cross jurisdictional economic development opportunities."
The position of Caucus Chair was passed to Currie Dixon, Yukon Minister of Environment and Economic Development.
"Yukon is very proud to assume the responsibilities of Chair of the Arctic Caucus," Dixon Said. "We see the Caucus as a key mechanism for collaboration in pursuing our common goals and objectives, With the growing national and international interest in the north it is increasingly important for northern jurisdictions to engage with each other to strengthen our collective voice."
Addressing the issues - whether tourism or economic development - that affect northern communities, requires special attention to the scale and unique challenges of living in the North.Knowledge is a key vehicle to develop capacity and relate it to community concerns. There is a clear need for an educated populace and trained workforce; at the same time input from local communities is incorporated into research and economic development activities.  'Ken McKinnon, Executive Committee Member/Board Member of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) addressing the PNWER Arctic Caucus in Whitehorse, YK.'
An overarching theme of the Arctic Caucus meeting last week was the importance of infrastructure for economic development. One of the challenges identified is that future infrastructure must be managed for integration with current infrastructure. Energy and transportation infrastructure were important themes, both of which are necessary for thriving economies and healthy peoples.
Examples of success stories in aboriginal development corporations and the Alaska Industrial Development Authority were discussed as innovative ways to leverage capital for infrastructure investment.
Tourism is also dependent on infrastructure. Tourism challenges include accessibility, high costs, and shortage of labor, as well as market competition, road conditions, and general lack of awareness. The importance and value of locally owned regional air carriers was a key element in this session as well. A pan-territorial marketing campaign, to include Alaska, was suggested as an action item for the PNWER Arctic Caucus to facilitate.
The meeting concluded Saturday with the endorsement of an Action Plan for northern development which will be pursued over the next year. The next annual meeting of the Arctic Caucus is to be hosted by Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska July 14 - 18, 2013.
PNWER, as North America's largest public-private partnership, has a role in increasing advocacy for Arctic issues; recognizing a distinct economic region, and sharing best practices across the U.S. - Canada border. Previous Arctic Caucus meetings have taken place in Barrow, Alaska in 2010; Yellowknife, NWT in 2011; and next Arctic Caucus annual meeting will be held July 14 - 18, 2013 in Anchorage, Alaska. | 
