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Early bird rates expire October 19! Save up to $100
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On the Agenda of PNWER's
2015 Winter Meeting in Yellowknife
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Detailed agenda available here
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Highlights of the Economic Leadership Forum
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Honourable Bob McLeod, Premier of the Northwest Territories
Discussion on provicial, state and federal relations
- Senator Curt McKenzie, Idaho and Matt Morrison, CEO of PNWER
Roundtable discussion on current cross-border topics in our region, including Invasive Species Perimeter of Defense and U.S.-Canada Preclearance Agreement
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Arctic Governance
Institute of the North and the Arctic Economic Council
- Drue Pearce, Senior Policy Advisor, Crowell & Moring LLP
State of Alaska Arctic Policy: Perspectives from the Alaska Legislature
- Representative Bob Herron, Alaska
Luncheon keynote
- Ken Coates, Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and co-director of research for the International Centre of Northern Governance and Development at the University of Saskatchewan
Maritime Security and Shipping
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Aboriginal Economic Development
Aboriginal participation and ownership models
- Darrell Beaulieu, Chief Executive Officer, Denendeh Investments Incorporated
Resource-Community Partnerships, a win-win relationship
- Sean Willy, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Cameco Corporation, Saskatchewan
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Highlights of the Economic Leadership Forum
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Impacts of the Canadian Federal Election
- Colin Robertson, Senior Advisor, Dentons LLP, Senior Fellow, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, and Advisor, Canadian Council of Chief Executives
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Market Access and Arctic Transportation Systems
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Energy development in the North & Energy Efficient Buildings
Utilizing Innovative Strategies for Energy Systems in the Arctic
- Paul Manson, Chairman, SeaBreeze Power Corporation
Roadmap to Resilient, Net-Zero Buildings in the Northwest
- By Representative Deb Boone, Oregon
- Introduction to energy efficiency, Net-Zero construction & deep retrofits
- What is Net-Zero construction and deep retrofits?
- Recent policies and programs in the PNWER region
Overview of energy opportunities in the Northwest Territories
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Robert Sexton, Manager of Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Government of the Northwest Territories
Efficient Buildings in the North; Super-efficient house in Inuvik
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Jim Martin, Vice President, Northwest Housing Corporation
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Mining
A Look at the impact of global commodity prices and its effect on Pacific Northwest region. As the world deals with a decline in commodity prices brought on by an economic slowdown in China, there is increasing concern of how the region will be able to withstand the impact.
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| Legislators attending the 2015 Winter Meeting as of Oct. 15 |
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Dan Ashton
Member of the Legislative Assembly, British Columbia
Rep. Deborah Boone
Representative, Oregon Legislative Assembly
Rep. Mike Cuffe
State Representative, Montana Legislative Assembly
Larry Doke
Member of the Legislative Assembly, Government of Saskatchewan
Sen. Lee Heider Senator, Idaho Legislative Assembly
Rep. Bob Herron Representative, Alaska Legislative Assembly Chair, PNWER Arctic Caucus
Sen. Cliff Larsen Senator, Montana Legislative Assembly
Sen. Curt McKenzie Senator, Idaho Legislative Assembly
Rep. Jeff Morris Representative, Washington Legislative Assembly
Hon. David Ramsay Minister, Northwest Territories
Don Toth
Member of the Legislative Assembly, Saskatchewan
Former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Sen. Chuck Winder Assistant Majority Leader, Idaho Legislative Assembly
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See all of our confirmed speakers at
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Highlights of the Legislative Leadership Academy, Nov. 15-16
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The bi-annual Legislative Leadership Academy is designed to improve legislators' knowledge of differences in U.S. and Canadian government systems and assist legislators in developing important relationships with their colleagues in neighboring jurisdictions across the border. The Legislative Leadership Academy will feature in-depth sessions on:
- Unique consensus-based government of Northwest Territories
- Structural differences in U.S. and Canadian governmental systems
- Roundtable discussion on campaign, election and leadership processes in states and territories
- Discussion on provicial, territorial, state and federal relations
- "View from the Speaker's Chair," a comparative look at the role of the Speaker of the House and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
This event begins on the morning of Sunday, November 15, so please plan to arrive in Yellowknife by Saturday, November 14.
Legislators will learn about the consensus government system of the Northwest Territories and tour the unique Legislative Assembly building
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MINING POLICY TOUR NOW AVAILABLE
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- Tour runs 7:30 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Nov. 18
- Sign up during event registration or update your registration by following the original link.
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| | The Mining Policy Tour will visit the Giant Mine Remediation Project, a joint project to clean and stabilize the site. |
The City of Yellowknife has a long history of mining since the first discovery of gold in 1928. Gold fueled the NWT economy for some 70 years with the Yellowknife gold mines producing 13.5 million ounces of gold since 1938. In 2014 the total value of minerals and diamonds produced in the NWT was $1.89 billion almost exclusively from diamonds. Yellowknife is the logistical hub for all points north.
This half-day tour will start with breakfast accompanied by an overview of the NWT & Nunavut Mining and Exploration Industry by Tom Hoefer, Executive Director of the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines. Pamela Strand, director of the Mineral Resource Division of the GNWT will be your guide throughout the day.
This will be followed by a surface tour by bus that will highlight both Yellowknife's gold history as well as our active diamond mining industry. Stops will include:
- The NWT Diamond Center, where you will hear about the stories of Diavik, Ekati and the Snap Lake Mine located 300 kilometers north of Yellowknife. See the story told in an interpretive exhibit that showcases the fascinating geology of kimberlite deposits, the technology of mining in the sub-arctic, and the process to turn a rough stone in a beautiful diamond. Visitors to the centre may purchase diamonds that have been mined, cut and polished in the NWT.
- Your bus will then take you to see the Robertson Headframe at the past producing Con Mine, currently closed and undergoing reclamation by Newmont Mining. The NWT Mining Heritage Society will be present to present the facts from our rich mineral history.
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You will then travel to the Giant Mine Remediation Project, a joint project to clean up the surface, stabilize and secure the underground and maintain and monitor the site for the future. Between 1948 and 2004, the Giant Mine was a major economic driver for Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories. When the mine closed, attention focused on the environmental issues left behind, notably 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide stored in underground chambers. The remediation project proposes to leave a new and positive legacy behind: a site that will provide an opportunity for many future uses by the community, as determined by the community. This project is state of the art and innovative. Members of the project team will be present to provide an overview and answer questions.
- Lastly we will take you on an aerial tour of Yellowknife by Twin Otter on skis and take off from the frozen waters of Great Slave Lake.
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| | The tour includes an aerial tour of Yellowknife on a Twin Otter aircraft fixed with skis. |
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START YOUR NORTHERN ADVENTURE
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PNWER's Winter Meeting will show guests a variety of memorable activities and venues.
Plan a longer stay to explore Yellowknife's local cuisine and cultural experiences, or use it as a jumping-off point for Northern adventures.
On PNWER's Itinerary
Sunday Nov. 15 Tour the Legislative Assembly Building (Legislative Leadership Academy)
See the NWT's unique consensus government in action with a tour from Hon. David Ramsay, Minister of Justice and Industry, Tourism and Investment, and Tim Mercer, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. Public tours of the building are available for non-legislative guests.
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Learn about the human and natural history of the Northwest Territories at the Pricnce of Wales Horthern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife. The museum holds in trust a large collection of objects that represent the peoples and cultures of the territory and produces exhibitions that tell stories about the land, people and history of the NWT.
Monday Nov. 16
Dog Sledding
Dash through the snowy trails around Grace Lake on an exciting but cozy ride. Meet the dogs, take pictures, and most importantly, have fun! Parkas, boots and mitts will all be provided.
Yellowknife Sights and History Tour
Local experts take guests on a tour of the city and learn how this historical gold-mining town transformed into the diamond capitol it is today. See local art and learn about the history and culture of the people that make this area unique.
Northwest Territories Welcome Reception
Wednesday, Nov. 18 Mining policy tour See the interactive exhibits at the NWT Diamond Centre, visit the past-producing Con Mine and Giant Mine Remediation site, and experience an exciting aerial tour of Yellowknife.
More to See and Do |
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We will be staying and meeting at The Explorer Hotel. Located on a high point in downtown Yellowknife, the Explorer's spacious guest rooms offer spectacular panoramic views of Niven Lake and Back Bay to the north and Frame Lake and the Legislative Assembly to the south.
Secure your room for the event by calling 1-800-661-0892. Please call Felicia Muncaster, PNWER Event Coordinator, at 206-443-7723 if you have any questions or need assistance.
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Cyber Security Tabletop Exercise in Boise a success
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| | Idaho Lieutenant Governor Brad Little spoke at the cyber security event in Idaho |
More than 130 participants from both public and private sectors, and from across the Pacific Northwest,, took part in the excercise that focused on current cyber threats, common challenges for securing data and continuing operations despite cyber disruptions.
Idaho Lieutenant Governor Brad Little and Brigadier General Brad Richy, Chief of the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security, spoke at the event along with other experts on cyber security preparedness, response, supervisory control and data acquisition systems.
Through this event, participants improved their own cyber plans by challenging their planning assumptions, gained a greater understanding of their interdependencies and built relationships with others across the state and region.
PNWER and the C-RDR are working to organize regional cyber security events in Portland and Seattle within the coming months. |
PNWER Delegation Advances Regional Concerns on Capitol Hill
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| | PNWER CEO Matt Morrison; Rep. Mike Cuffe, Montana; Sen. Lee Heider, Idaho; U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, Idaho; Sen. Curt McKenzie, Idaho; and Steve Myers, senior program manager at PNWER, discussed funding for invasive species during a recent visit to Washington D.C. |
A PNWER delegation traveled to Washington, D.C. on October 7-10 to discuss key regional issues in more than 25 meetings that included federal legislators and their staff, officials in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of State.
The delegation consisted of PNWER President Senator Curt McKenzie of Idaho, Senator Lee Heider of Idaho, PNWER Vice President Representative Mike Cuffe of Montana, PNWER CEO Matt Morrison and Steve Myers, PNWER Senior Program Manager. Meetings were generally fruitful and legislators and staff were aware of the problems we brought up.
Priorities- Impressing the importance of federal funding matches for a perimeter defense against invasive mussels
- Repealing Country of Origin Labelling Requirements
- B.C-Alaska Transboundary water issues
- Advancing pre-clearance and Beyond the Border initiatives
Invasive Species
The PNWER delegation met with several members of congress and key people in the executive branch of the federal government to discuss invasive species funding for the Columbia River Basin. These meetings were great information exchange for members working hard to secure federal funding for prevention activities in the Pacific Northwest and those who wanted to learn more about the problem. Up to $20 million is authorized in the Water Resources Reform & Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA) bill. Appropriations are currently being developed in committee in the House of Representatives.
COOL
Members of the PNWER delegation met with staff members of majority and minority leaders to express our interest in repealing Country Of Origin Labelling (COOL) requirements and stressed the importance of keeping bilateral trade between the U.S. and Canada in good standing. Staff explained the issues with repealing COOL and the work underway on a voluntary labeling bill to present to the committee. We will have more information after the later November World Trade Organization (WTO) discussion on damages awarded.
B.C-Alaska Transboundary water issues
The PNWER delegation met with the Alaska delegation to discuss British Columbia-Alaska transboundary water issues. We stressed the importance of the province and state working together to resolve questions surrounding environmental safeguards. Both senators agree that Alaska and British Columbia need to cooperate to maintain the environment of the region..
Preclearance
The Delegation met with the lead staff member from Sen. Patrick Leahy of office of Vermont who is the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee which is responsible for the implementation of the beyond the border preclearance initiative. Currently the preclearance initiative is tied to the Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (CEJA) which would provide protections to U.S. contractors in foreign countries. The delegation was able to stress the importance of this initiative for U.S.-Canada trade and tourism in the Pacific Northwest. |
Graduation Ceremony for PNWER's Legislative Energy Horizon Institute (LEHI)
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| | 2015 graduates of PNWER's Legislative Energy Horizon Institute celebrated Oct. 8 at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. |
More than 60 people attended the graduation ceremony of the 2015 cohort from PNWER's Legislative Energy Horizon Institute (LEHI), held October 8 at the Embassy of Canada in Washington D.C. Thirty-five state and provincial legislators from the U.S. and Canada and four energy staff successfully completed the certificate program in energy policy. It provides an extensive overview of the North American energy system, from operating energy systems to building and financing infrastructure to regulation methods and market impacts.
Graduates completed 60 hours of classroom instruction in Richland, Washington and Washington D.C. Since the program's inception in 2009, 160 legislators from the U.S. and Canada have graduated.
At the ceremony, Deputy Head of Mission Denis Stevens and Liz Dalton, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Energy both congratulated graduates for their dedication to improving their knowledge of energy systems.
Dan Kirschner, executive director of the Northwest Gas Association, PNWER U.S. Executive Committee co-chair and an original sponsor of LEHI, gave insight on the program and was pleased with the education provided to legislators.Jeff Morris, director of LEHI, gave keynote remarks and handed graduates their diplomas.
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The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) was created in 1991 by the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
It is a statutory public/private non-profit dedicated to increasing the economic well-being and quality of life for all citizens of the region, while maintaining and enhancing our natural environment.
Our overarching goals are to: - Coordinate provincial and state policies throughout the region
- Identify and promote "models of success"
- Serve as a conduit to exchange information.
- Promote greater regional collaboration
- Enhance the competitiveness of the region in both domestic and international markets
- Leverage regional influence in Ottawa and Washington D.C.
- Achieve continued economic growth while maintaining the region's natural resources
Our 25th Annual Summit in Big Sky, Montana, brought together more than 530 leaders from the public and private sector to confront the biggest regional challenges to trade, economic growth, industry, employment and the environment. PNWER's 21 working groups develop yearly action items at our Summits to continually advance policy initiatives with public and private stakeholders. |
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Thank you to our early 2015 Winter Meeting Sponsors
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