Released on February 17, 2010
Premier Brad Wall - current chair of the Council of the Federation (COF) - will lead a delegation of Canadian Premiers to Washington, D.C. on February 19-20.
The COF Premiers mission, which will focus on trade, energy and environment issues, will feature meetings with U.S. state Governors and senior officials of President Obama's administration.
"This is an unprecedented opportunity for Premiers to speak with a united voice to some of the most influential leaders in the United States," Wall said. "Premiers will make it clear that provinces are important partners to the U.S. on energy security and maintaining open borders and trade."
The highlight of the COF mission will be a meeting between Premiers and U.S. state Governors at the winter meeting of the National Governors Association. Governors have invited Premiers to this important annual event to discuss energy, environment, trade and border issues.
"This meeting in itself is an historic event for Premiers," Wall said. "It's significant that, at a time of recovery and significant change in the U.S., Governors are seeking to work together with Premiers in solving some of our common challenges on energy and trade. This meeting is the key step in a closer relationship between Premiers and Governors."
Premiers will also hold discussions on energy and trade with leading U.S. think tanks, including the Brookings Institute, the Centre for American Progress and the Woodrow Wilson Centre.
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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