PROVINCE HOSTS PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECONOMIC REGION WINTER MEETING

A major gathering of government and business leaders from Canada and the U.S. takes place in Regina this week.

Starting Wednesday, Regina plays host to the annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) winter meeting. The event will bring together 150 legislators and business people to discuss critical issues for the PNWER region.

PNWER is a Canada-U.S. forum of elected officials and private sector leaders from states and provinces in the Pacific Northwest region. Member states and provinces include: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

The overall goal of the organization is to promote regional co-operation in advancing economic development and protecting the environment.

"Saskatchewan has been a PNWER member for a little over a year, and we're already hosting a major PNWER event," PNWER Vice-President and Cutknife-Turtleford MLA Michael Chisholm said. "It's an exciting chance to showcase Saskatchewan and to discuss ways that governments and businesses in the region can work together to create opportunities as our economies resume growth."

"We look forward to being in Regina while the Legislature is in session, and to learning more about the economic strength that Saskatchewan brings to this region," PNWER President and Alaska State Senator Lesil McGuire said.

The PNWER winter meeting consists of two components. The Legislative Academy will educate legislators about the functioning of state and provincial governments through a series of hands-on workshops. The Economic Leadership Forum will host discussions between leaders from Canada and the U.S. on critical issues like trade, energy, climate change and innovation.

There will also be a number of high-profile keynote speakers during the PNWER winter meeting, including:

• Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall; 
• Canada's Ambassador to the United States Gary Doer (in his first speaking engagement in Canada since his appointment as Ambassador);
• U.S. Consul General Laura Lochman;
• Viterra Inc. CEO Mayo Schmidt; and
• Potash Corporation CFO Wayne R. Brownlee.

For more information, visit www.pnwer.org.

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For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Intergovernmental Affairs
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5193
Cell: 306-537-7051

Matt Morrison
Pacific NorthWest Economic Region
Seattle
Phone: 206-443-7723
Cell: 206-399-4026