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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) held its Arctic Caucus in Yellowknife last week.

Seventy Canadian and U.S. government officials and business leaders converged on the city for the two-day conference, held at the Explorer Hotel, discussing issues of interest to the Arctic region's economy, and touring the Giant Mineremediation site for a policy visit.

"It's been very beneficial to the Northwest Territories," Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Bob McLeod said of the forum. "We get to bring our issues forward, share our issues with PNWER, and we learn and benefit a lot from them as well."

McLeod hosts forum

McLeod hosted the forum as well as the group's Wednesday evening state capital visit of Yellowknife.

President of PNWER and Oregon State representative Mike Schaufler talked about the importance of the organization to the member jurisdictions including the NWT, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

"There just wasn't this kind of dialogue going on (before the group was assembled)," Schaufler said. "We bring elected officials at state, provincial, territorial level, together with the private sector and other advocacy groups and talk about the things we have in common - all for the safety, health, welfare and economic vitality of this region."

The theme of the conference was Arctic Action: Global Growth, and included speakers Brian Chambers of the National Energy Board, vice-president and general manager of Marsh Creek LLC Energy Systems John Cameron, and executive director of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines Tom Hoefer. Chair of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group Fred Carmichael gave a lunchtime keynote address on the Mackenzie Gas Project on Thursday.

McLeod said the Mackenzie gas pipeline was a main discussion point throughout the conference. Mining, infrastructure, and oil spill response technology were also discussed.

"It really helps us promote the North," the minister said.

The group wrapped up the caucus with a bus tour of the Giant Mine property, for a presentation on the remediation project on Friday afternoon.

PNWER held its annual summit this year in Portland, Ore., in July.

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