Released on March 3, 2008
Premier Brad Wall will promote Saskatchewan's energy and agricultural interests during his mission to Washington, D.C., March 5 to 8.
"The Saskatchewan story is not well-known in the United States," Wall said. "However, in order to sustain measured economic growth, we will need to attract trade and commerce and investment to our province from all over the world, including obviously the U.S."
Wall, along with Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd, will meet with Samuel Bodman, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, and with various legislative leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, including:
- James Sensenbrenner, Ranking Member, House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming;
- Representative Rick Boucher, Chairman of the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee; and
- Representative Collin Peterson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Wall will also deliver keynote addresses to the Canadian-American Business Council (March 5), the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars (March 6) and the Energy Council (March 7). The Premier will also be interviewed by reporters from the New York Times, Business Week and Time Magazine.
"Our economic momentum, on pace to lead Canada, transcends the borders of our province and country," Wall said. "We have an important message to deliver to American investors and legislators, particularly on North American energy security.
"Saskatchewan is an energy powerhouse, with its conventional oil and natural gas supplies, its future oil sands potential, and its leadership position as the world's largest producer of uranium," Wall said. "We also have a long history of being a significant and reliable energy supplier to the U.S., so our province is uniquely positioned to play an even bigger role as a supplier of secure energy for the North American market."
Wall also noted that this is an election year in the United States, and that has brought increased talk of protectionism and a desire by some to re-open the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
"Americans need to be reminded of our role as a stable and safe supplier of energy in a world where oil supplies are diminishing," Wall said. "I intend to deliver that message."
Following the Washington mission, the Premier is scheduled to return to the U.S. as the keynote speaker at the East Coast Canadian Energy Conference in New York, March 13.
The East Coast Canadian Energy Conference is organized annually by Canada's leading energy-focused investment bank, FirstEnergy Capital Corporation. Wall is the first Saskatchewan Premier to be invited to this event.
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For more information, contact:
Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927