Released on April 15, 2008
A delegation representing the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) is in Saskatchewan for two days of meetings with elected representatives and senior officials of the provincial government.
Established in 1991, PNWER is a public/private partnership made up of legislators, governments and businesses from across the U.S. and Canadian northwest with the aim of pursuing similar goals in the areas of regional co-operation and economic growth. Currently, PNWER consists of five U.S. states and three Canadian provinces or territories (British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon), representing more than 20 million people and more than $700 billion in gross national product.
While in Saskatchewan, the PNWER delegation will meet with a number of cabinet ministers and senior government officials to discuss a variety of topics.
"I look forward to learning more about how membership in the PNWER may benefit Saskatchewan," Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Bill Boyd said. "It is important for Saskatchewan to explore opportunities for greater collaboration within this region. The meetings over these two days will afford us this opportunity."
Cutknife-Turtleford MLA Michael Chisolm, in his capacity of Legislative Secretary to the Premier on Western Co-operation, invited the delegation to visit the province.
"The economic health of Saskatchewan is largely undisputed these days, but we also wanted to give the PNWER delegates a real sense of Saskatchewan's identity," Chisholm said.
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For more information, contact:
Bonny Braden
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0906
Email: bonny.braden@gov.sk.ca