June 4, 2002
Tuesday - 4:30 pm

Anchorage - Recognizing the current close economic ties and future potential opportunities between the State of Alaska and the Canadian Province of Alberta, Gov. Tony Knowles and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein today signed a Memorandum of Understanding and cooperation between the two governments following talks between the two leaders.

The Memorandum calls for the appointment of a council of Alaskans and Albertans to advance areas of cooperation from energy development and improved transportation links to aboriginal issues and northern health improvements.

"With work underway toward development of an Alaska Highway natural gas pipeline that would deliver gas to North American markets through Alberta's vital energy hub, it is high time to formalize our relationship to ensure we both benefit from such development," said Knowles, who spoke with Klein before a meeting of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance in Anchorage. "Alaska enjoys close contact with our immediate neighbors in the Yukon and British Columbia. The strengthening of friendly and mutually beneficial bilateral relations with Alberta is the next logical step in our developing relationship with Canada."

"Alberta and Alaska share much in common - northern climates, abundant natural resources, thriving oil and gas industries, and strong pioneer spirits," Klein said in a press release issued by his office. "This will be a good opportunity to forge closer and more formal linkages between our governments."

In remarks to the Alliance meeting today, Knowles noted current economic ties between Alaska and Alberta as well as promising opportunities. Thanks in part to Alberta, Canada is Alaska's number 3 trading partner, with Alaska exports to Canada jumping 14 percent last year. Knowles recently named an Alberta-based company that operates in Kenai, Agrium, as the 2001 Governor's Exporter of the Year.

The Governor also noted that a Calgary company, EnCana Corporation, was among the successful bidders in Monday's oil and gas lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. That follows last month's state North Slope Foothills oil and gas lease sale in which Canadian firms helped the sale set a record for the single largest acreage sale in Alaska's history.

Knowles praised Klein for helping put Calgary on the world's map and who, as its three-term mayor and now as the three-term premier, is spreading the "Klein revolution" to one of Canada's most prosperous provinces.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding Alaska and Alberta agree to pursue the following objectives:

• To promote common goals by encouraging cooperation and understanding between governments, businesses, legislators, and citizens of Alaska and Alberta;
• To develop informal dispute avoidance and resolution processes to address potential cross border concerns;
• To work cooperatively to influence our respective federal governments' policies and decisions in areas of interest to both regions, in recognition of the fact that certain issues are beyond the jurisdiction of Alaska and Alberta;
• To learn from each other's best practices and the world-class expertise in specific sectors that are found in both jurisdictions.

Members of the Alaska-Alberta Bilateral Council will provide direction on bilateral issues, review achievements, and explore new areas for cooperation. Council delegates will include legislators, government officials, and representatives of private industry. Meetings of the Council will be held annually, alternating between Alaska and Alberta.

"While the gasline is an obvious, immediate link between Alaska and Alberta, the Council will facilitate cooperation in a number of others areas," Knowles said, including:

• Transportation, including the Alaska Highway and exploring the viability of establishing direct commercial air service between Alaska and Alberta;
• Aboriginal issues, including resource development, tourism, education, health and wellness, and culture;
• Trade and investment, including business information exchanges and joint business partnership opportunities;
• Northern sustainable development issues, including cold weather technology, environment, and telecommunications;
• Northern health issues, including rural sanitation, air quality, and wild and traditional food safety; and,
• Tourism including marketing.

Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, Knowles and Klein witnessed the signing of a similar agreement formalizing communications between the Alaska Support Industry Alliance with its Canadian counterpart, the Petroleum Services Association of Canada.

Following Tuesday's activities in Anchorage, Premier Klein will travel to Dawson in the Yukon Territory for a meeting of Premiers of Western Provinces. Gov. Knowles will join Klein and other premiers in the Dawson meeting Wednesday and Thursday.

Source of News Release:

Office of the Governor
Web Site

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