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Check out this week's coverage in The StarPhoenix newspaper
"PNWER event shaping future" StarPhoenix Editorial July 14, 2012 Saskatoon for the next week will be the capital of an economic region that, if it formed a political union, would be among the top dozen richest nations. And considering what members of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, composed of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, Alaska, Idaho, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories, have in common, the discussions could play a significant role in the economic development of the continent and world. It is those common interests that are on the Saskatoon agenda. Lawmakers and delegates will be talking about innovative approaches to such things as post-secondary responsibilities, development of renewable resources, ways to make seamless the borders between the provinces and states and between the nation, how to adapt to climate change and - perhaps most importantly - the role the region can play in energy security. For decades the member jurisdictions on the western side of the Rockies were considered so similar in geography and interests that there was a suggestion they could form their own country of Cascadia. It has long since been converted to the idea of an economic region instead of a political entity. But with the addition of the eastern slopes - most notably Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan with their deep and expansive resources - the importance of a cohesive partnership becomes all the more important. While the PNWER legislators and business representatives here will be talking about areas of common interest, it's this underlying importance that must not be lost in the minutia. It is crucial for the region's economic growth to put in place measures that facilitate cross-jurisdictional infrastructure to be built, labour and commerce to move more freely across borders, innovation to be more easily shared and common environmental interests to be promoted. When one considers the array of resources in the region, the greatest danger lies in thinking too small or local when it comes to such things as protecting the clean western skies, safeguarding the interests of First Nations people, developing and exporting oilsands bitumen, potash and agricultural products, protecting Pacific fish stocks and even benefiting from the potential under the Arctic Ocean. It would be a shame to allow the fear of competition or jealousy of our neighbours to stand in the way of that potential. Part of the way to avoid this is to open up competition across the region. That requires a much broader development of infrastructure - such as the now quiescent proposal to build a combined rail-pipeline that links Alaska to the lower 48. This also could also be an alternative route for Alberta oilsands and Montana sweet crude to be linked into pipelines to the Gulf Coast. And it's worth noting that PNWER represents a part of the continent uniquely positioned to enhance trade to Asia. With Canada's potential admission to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the development of a more robust cross-border infrastructure to get goods to the Asian market can mean long-term benefits for the entire continent. So smile when you see PNWER delegates on the river trails this week. They are our future. | 
