PREMIER TO PROMOTE ENERGY ON U.S. ECONOMIC MISSION

Premier Lorne Calvert will promote Saskatchewan's rich energy resources to American business leaders as well as to United States Vice-President Dick Cheney on an investment and trade mission to Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., and New York City next week.

The purpose of the February 12th-18th mission is to raise awareness of the important role Saskatchewan plays in providing energy, particularly crude oil and uranium, to the United States, as well as to attract more investment to the province.

Calvert and Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline will also promote the province's reputation for leading-edge environmental research and technologies in such areas as carbon dioxide capture and storage, and enhanced oil recovery.

"Saskatchewan's array of energy resources is increasingly driving our economy in this, our second century," Calvert said. "However, the knowledge of Saskatchewan's energy potential among a number of U.S. investors is relatively limited, especially given that the United States and Canada enjoy the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world. It is up to us to deliver a powerful message of investment opportunity."

In addition to energy, Calvert and Cline will advance a broad range of investment opportunities. In Minneapolis, they will meet with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and the premier will speak to the Canada/Minnesota Business Council, which represents Saskatchewan's largest American export destination.

The Washington leg of the mission includes meetings with the U.S. Agriculture and Energy Departments and a luncheon address to the Canadian American Business Council, in addition to the premier's meeting with Vice-President Cheney.

In New York, Calvert and Cline will meet with a number of investment firms, and the premier will speak to business leaders at events held by the Canadian Society of New York and the New York Energy Forum.

"Saskatchewan is the province with the most diverse energy resource base in Canada," Calvert said. "We are promoting this fact on this mission, as well as our positive investment climate and our growing strength in other economic sectors."

"We offer abundance, diversity, stability and security to our largest trading partner," Cline said, "and we will be telling our American audiences that we are a province worth getting to know, and worth remembering."

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For More Information, Contact:

Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306) 787-1691