Released on June 11, 2009
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is attending two important meetings next week. He will be representing the province at the Western Governors' Association (WAG) meeting in Park City, Utah, June 14 and 15. Following that, Premier Wall will travel to Dawson City, Yukon, for the annual Western Premiers' Conference June 17 to 19.
"WGA is an excellent opportunity to continue the job of telling Saskatchewan's remarkable story to important American audiences and it's a chance to continue to build relationships with governors from neighbouring states," Wall said. "A key goal for me at this meeting is launching the Western Energy Initiative - something I've been working on with Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana. The plan is to bring together the major energy players in the Canadian and American mid-west."
Wall said the Western Energy Initiative would function as a forum for the development of energy and environmental policies that support the responsible development of both renewable and non-renewable energy. Goals of the Western Energy Initiative include better coordination of energy research and better co-ordination of efforts to commercialize that research.
"There needs to be a strong regional voice for responsible energy development that can support economic growth," Wall said. "We need to make sure that we are being heard at the national level - both in Canada and the United States."
In Dawson City, Premier Wall will present an independent report on western competitiveness, a report initiated at last year's Western Premiers' Conference in Prince Albert.
"We need to be promoting the West as a competitive and innovative place to do business," Wall said. "Western Premiers are committed to emerging from the current economic downturn stronger, smarter and more committed to collaboration."
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For more information, contact:
Neil Pobran
Executive Council
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-8297
Email: neal.pobran@gov.sk.ca