Los Angeles, August 6, 2013 - From July 14 to 19, Alain Houde, the Québec Representative for the Western United States, attended the annual summit of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) in Anchorage, Alaska. The event gathered more than 200 policy makers, experts and business representatives from the Northwest parts of Canada and the U.S.
From left : Alain Houde, Québec Representative in Los Angeles; Kevin Ranker, Senator (WA), member of the « Climate Legislative and Executive Workgroup » and President of PNWER; Matt Morrison, CEO of PNWER.
The PNWER was created in 1991 by five U.S. states and five Canadian provinces and territories. Its mission is to enhance economic development and quality of life in the region. Besides arctic questions, PNWER is particularly active in issues related to the passage of goods and people across borders, trade, tourism and energy.
The goal for the Québec Government Office in Los Angeles to participate in PNWER was to link with political, economic decision makers and influential institutions in the region in order to consider collaboration and sharing of expertise.
Also, the objective was to promote a better understanding of Québec’s actions concerning arctic issues, while Canada chairs the Arctic Council and thus since last May. The United States will take over in 2015.
The Québec Representative was able to speak with many officials, including the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, Mead Treadwell.