The Summit is a platform to tackle a variety of policy issues, from transportation challenges and cross-border livestock health, to energy sustainability. Summit keynote speakers will bring new thought, fresh dialog, and in-depth expertise to the issues facing the region. They include:     

 
 Donald Atchison, Mayor of the City of Saskatoon (Opening Reception), was elected on Oct, 22, 2003. Prior to his post, Atchison was first elected to Saskatoon's city council as a councilor for Ward 10 in 1994, and then re-elected in 1997 and 2000.

                                                                                                

Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan (Monday Lunch) was first elected Premier of Saskatchewan in the November 2007 provincial election. His government was re-elected in the 2011 provincial election with 64 per cent of the popular vote, the highest percentage of any political party in Saskatchewan history. Wall was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Swift Current in 1999, and re-elected in 2003. He became leader of the Official Opposition Saskatchewan Party  on March 15, 2004.

Ezra Levant, (Tuesday breakfast) is a TV anchor, newspaper columnist, author, and host of the new Sun TV daily talk show, The Source. After graduating from law school, he went to join the editorial board of The National Post newspaper where he covered the Supreme Court and the Middle East. In 2004, Levant became the founding publisher of the Western Standard magazine, the only Canadian media outlet to publish the Danish cartoons of Mohammed. That led to two charges of "hate speech" before  the Alberta government's human rights commission. Levant wrote a book about the experience, called Shakedown, which exposed the illiberal nature of Canadian human rights commissions. His new book called, Ethical Oil: The Case for Canada's Oilsands, was published in September 2010 and won the National Business Book Award in Spring 2011.

Pamela Wallin, Order of Canadian Senate (Tuesday Lunch), is a former television journalist and diplomat. On Jan. 2, 2009, she was appointed to the Canadian Senate, where she sits as a Conservative. She is also Chair of the Senate's National Security & Defense Committee, serves on both the Veterans Affairs subcommittee and the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee.    

Brenda Kenny, President & CEO of the Canadian Energy Pipeli ne Association (Tuesday Lunch), is President and CEO of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) where she works with industry partners to develop industry positions and advocacy related to a wide range of issues including safety, climate change, regulatory efficiency and financial competitiveness. Dr. Kenny has extensive experience in energy regulation, sustainable development and strategy. Prior to joining CEPA, she spent a number of years with the National Energy Board where she provided executive leadership in policy, regulatory reviews and finance.                  

Session speakers  

Health Care 

• Dan Florizone, Province of Saskatchewan
• John Sproule, Institute of Health Economics
• John Rusche, MD & Idaho House Minority Leader
• Steven Lewis, Research Advisor Change Foundation
• Anne McFarlane, Canadian Institute for Health Information  

Transportation

• Scott Rudderham, Canpotex
• Ruth Sol, Western Transportation Advisory Council
• Bruce Agnew, Cascadia Center
• Eric Johnson  Washington Ports Association 
• Jim Reiter, Highways and Infrastructure, Saskatchewan (Co-chair)  

• Reuben Keller, Layola University Chicago       
• Ken Donnelly, LURA Consultants
• Eric Anderson, Idaho House Representatives
• Mark Sytsma, Portland State University

• Don Alper, Border Policy Research Institute (Co-chair)
• Rob Merrifield, Member of Parliament - Yellowhead (Co-chair)

• Deb Boone, Oregon House of Representatives (Co-chair)
• Pat Docking, PDocking Consulting Ltd., Transport Canada
• Scott Rudderham, Canpotex
• Blair Wagar, Global Transportation Hub
• Duane McKay, Emergency Management and Fire Safety, Saskatchewan  

Water Policy

• Bert Stevenson, Alberta Water Research Institute
• David Hill, Alberta Water Research Institute
• Howard Wheater, University of Saskatchewan and Global Institute for Water Security    
• Dave Sauchyn, Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative    
• Matt Rea, US Army Corps of Engineers*
• Kathy Eichenberger, BC Ministry of Energy and Mines*

• Jim Kastama, Washington State Senate (Co-chair)
• Dave Zepponi, Northwest Food Processors Association (Co-chair)  

• Russ Hendricks, Government Affairs, Idaho Farm Bureau 
• Nithi Govindasamy, SK Ministry of Agriculture
• Alanna Koch, SK Ministry of Agriculture
• Marion Law, Health Canada PMRA*
• Lois Rossi, U.S. EPA*
• Brian Evans, Neil Bower CFIA
• Diane Allan, CFIA

• Currie Dixon, Economic Development, Yukon 
• David Ramsay, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Government of Northwest Territories
• Lesil McGuire, Alaska State Senate

Sustainable Natural Resource Development: Mining    

• Pamela Schwann, Saskatchewan Mining Association (Co-chair)
• Tom Wagoner, Alaska State Senate (Co-chair)   
• Eric Anderson, Idaho House of Representatives
• Mark Sytsma, Portland State University  
• Reuben Keller, Layola University Chicago

For more information, including the detailed agenda, please visit www.pnwer.org/2012AnnualSummit