Join us in Whistler, B.C.
You're invited to the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) Annual Summit in Whistler, British Columbia from July 20 - 24, 2014. PNWER is the only statutory, non-partisan, bi-national, public / private partnership in North America, with goals of strengthening relationships, finding cross-border solutions to common challenges, and advocating for regional interests.
In its 24th year, the PNWER Annual Summit brings together over 500 key business leaders, legislators, and government leaders from PNWER's ten states, provinces, and territories to address the major policy issues impacting the region.
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Photos courtesy of Tourism Whistler
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Have you booked your room, but haven't registered yet?
OUR ROOM BLOCK IS NEARLY FULL!
The luxurious 550-room Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort is located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia. Tastefully designed luxury accommodations with spectacular mountain or village views were created to blend with the natural alpine setting.
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PNWER IN THE NEWS
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John Higgenbotham, CIGI Senior Research Fellow, co-author of CIGI Policy Brief No. 40.
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In its latest Policy Brief,the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) recommended that the Canadian government:
"Support the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region's (PNWER) proposal of a Beaufort business council that would be a step toward a more forceful and coherent Arctic voice for North American business in a critical binational area."
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THANK YOU TO OUR ADDITIONAL SPONSORS:
Marathon
Microsoft
Nunhems USA, Inc.
SSA Marine
We Work for Health
Canpotex
Capital Power
CAPP
Cenovus Energy
CN
Devon Canada
FortisBC
Idaho National Lab
Idaho Dairymen's Association
Imperial
Booz Allen Hamilton
CAODC
CBI Canada
Eiguren Fisher Public Policy
Agrium
Altalink
Westshore Terminals
The Butchart Gardens
TransAlta
Prince Rupert Port Authority
Spectra
Interfor
Pacific Northwest LNG
Fasken Martineau
Chevron
APEGBC
ASTTBC
We are very grateful to all of our generous sponsors. If you'd like more information on becoming a Summit sponsor, click here.
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The annual Ottawa capital visit took place June 3 - 4 and was a great success. The delegation included legislators and representatives from AB, AK, BC, SK, ID, YK, MT, OR, and WA. Delegates met with several Ministers and high-level government officials on many topics including: Arctic issues, transportation safety, energy and environment, agriculture, invasive species, disaster resilience, border issues and trade policy.
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The PNWER delegation with U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman (front row, third from right).
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The Ottawa visit began with a private breakfast meeting with the new U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Bruce Heyman, at his residence. The Ambassador discussed several priority issues related to trade and border security and spent a good part of the visit listening to the delegation speak on PNWER's concerns and priorities. Ambassador Heyman complimented PNWER's efforts to make specific recommendations and seek real solutions to problems. The Ambassador looks forward to attending the PNWER Summit in July and participating in a stakeholder listening session with his Canadian counterpart Ambassador Doer.
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Ambassador Bruce Heyman with the Honourable Norm Letnick, Minister of Agriculture, B.C., and PNWER 2014 Summit Host Committee Co-Chair.
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The Honourable Gerry Ritz, left, with The Honourable Norm Letnick.
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The delegation later met with the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture, where they discussed several regional topics of importance, including a new electronic-certification (E-Cert) pilot for livestock, cross border livestock health and agriculture issues in the Regulatory Cooperation Council, market access for agriculture goods through the PNWER region, Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), and stopping the spread of quagga and zebra mussels into our region. The delegation thanked Minister Ritz for his help in getting an E-Cert pilot started in our region and for his commitment to work with PNWER on stopping the spread of quagga and zebra mussels.
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PNWER's meeting with the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq.
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The delegation attended a productive meeting with the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council. PNWER Arctic Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Bob Herron, AK, led the discussion on specific activities in our region related to the Arctic and opportunities to provide input to the Arctic Council.
A reception with Ministers, MPs, and Senators from Western Jurisdictions was hosted in partnership with the Canada U.S. Interparlimentary Group in Centre Block. Canadian Senator Janis Johnson welcomed PNWER President Senator Kevin Ranker and the rest of the delegation to Ottawa.
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Canadian Senator Janis Johnson with PNWER President WA Senator Kevin Ranker.
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Senator Richard Neufeld, Chair of the Senate Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee hosted a Roundtable on Hydrocarbon Transportation Safety Issues (land and marine) with other senate committee members, Members of Parliament and the PNWER delegation. The group discussed the importance of improved safety for the transport of oil and gas. The Canadian Senate recently published a bi-partisan study on this topic and it will be a focus of the transportation working group at the PNWER Summit. The delegation also met with senior staff from Transport Canada in separate meetings to discuss this issue in detail.  | |
Roundtable discussion led by Sen. Richard Neufeld.
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The delegation also met with the David McGovern, Senior Advisor and Director of Beyond the Border Action Plan and Regulatory Cooperation Council for Canada; Kevin O'Shea, Assistant Secretary, Border Action Plan Implementation Privy Council Office; and Robert Carberry Assistant Secretary Regulatory Cooperation Council Secretariat Privy Council Office. PNWER has provided dozens of recommendations and ongoing input on the Beyond the Border and RCC and continues to work with both federal governments to implement new solutions. PNWER will host the RCC leads from the U.S. and Canada at the PNWER Summit in Whistler to hear about upcoming improvements to the RCC and make recommendations on future activities.
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The PNWER Delegation met at the Privy Council Office with Canadian leads on the RCC and Beyond the Border.
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THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT SUMMIT PREMIERE SPONSORS:
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