REGISTRATION OPEN FOR PNWER CONFERENCE AND TOURS

Conference and policy tour registration is open for the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) 22nd Annual Summit, taking place in Saskatoon July 15-19.

The summit is expected to draw more than 500 key elected officials, legislators, government officials and business leaders from across the northwestern United States and Western Canada, where they will engage in discussion and offer solutions to major policy issues facing the region.

"We expect this will be a very timely conference with the release of the Beyond the Border Action Plan this past December - a plan to which PNWER was involved in providing comments and recommendations," PNWER Host Committee co-chair and Thunder Creek MLA Lyle Stewart said. "The summit is also an opportunity to engage in dialogue between public- and private-sector leaders on a variety of issues, including trade and economic development, energy and agriculture, to name a few."

Policy tours are open to registered delegates and will take place Wednesday, July 18, and Thursday, July 19. These tours offer delegates an opportunity to explore Saskatchewan's economic innovation, with visits to VIDO InterVac, the Canadian Light Source, and a journey to the depths of a potash mine as some of the many highlights.

The five-day conference will also include networking opportunities, business and professional development, and a host of keynote speakers including Premier Brad Wall; Senator Pamela Wallin; author and former Shell Oil president, John Hofmeister; and president of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, Dr. Brenda Kenny.

"We have put together a great line up of tours and keynotes and we look forward to adding even more in the coming weeks," Stewart said. "This is a great opportunity to profile Saskatchewan as an economic powerhouse and we look forward to hosting a strong delegation from both inside the province and around the region."

PNWER is the only partnership of its kind in North America and represents a regional combined GDP of $1 trillion. The partnership's mission is to promote greater regional collaboration, enhance competitiveness, achieve continued economic growth, and reduce trade and regulatory barriers.

PNWER encompasses Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories in Canada, and Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington in the United States.

To register for the summit and the policy tours, visit http://www.pnwer.org/2012annualsummit/Home.aspx.

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For more information, contact:

Joanne Johnson
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7967