US Pacific-Northwest

U.S. Pacific Northwest – Alberta

PROFILE Gross Domestic Product (GDP):  Alberta’s emphasis on the Pacific Approximately $ 1.16 trillion U.S. (2010) Northwest region is due to multiple U.S. PNWER Capitals: (including provinces and states) factors: proximity; historical ties; similar Juneau (Alaska) consumer tastes and preferences; affluent Boise (Idaho) Real GDP Per Capita: Approximately consumer base; opportunities for Helena (Montana) $ 60,992 U.S. (2010) specialty/niche products; significant Salem (Oregon) (including provinces and states) growth; trade dependency of these states; Olympia (Washington) established cost competitive transportation Key Industry Sectors: Oil & natural gas, networks; and the NAFTA advantage with PNWER Regional Population: agriculture, forestry, tourism, high the U.S. 22.1 million (2011) technology and mining (provinces and states)  With a population of approximately 13.8 million, the U.S. Pacific Northwest states Governors: RELATIONSHIP OVERVIEW are both an end market for Alberta Sean Parnell (R) -Alaska primary and value-added products, and a Butch Otter (R)-Idaho  Alberta has signed Memorandums of gateway to other markets, including Steve Bullock (D) -Montana Understanding (MOUs) on Cooperation California, Mexico and the Pacific Rim. John Kitzhaber (D)-Oregon with Montana and Alaska. Both Alberta Jay Inslee (D) -Washington and Washington have sister state relationships with Jalisco, Mexico.

Input was provided from the departments of: Enterprise & Advanced Education, Agriculture & Rural Development, Education and Energy February 2013 mber 2010

Alberta's Domestic Exports to Alberta's Domestic Exports to PNWER States (2002-2011) PNWER States (2007-2011) $20,000 Machinery Iron & Steel Wood Live Animals 1% 1% 1% 3% $15,000 Inorganic Other Chemicals 6% $10,000 1% Fertilizers

CDN Millions CDN 2% $5,000 Oil & Gas 85% $0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

* Note: Natural gas that is later sent to the California market accounts for a percentage of exports to Washington.

Pacific NorthWest Economic TRANSPORTATION & BORDER EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES Region (PNWER) CROSSINGS  Computer software: the Pacific Northwest  PNWER is a regional forum that  Alberta works with its state partners offers great opportunities for networking brings together legislative, to advance CANAMEX, a seamless and communications, multi-media games government and private sector trade and transportation corridor that and entertainment, education software, leaders from across the Pacific will run from Alaska, through Yukon, and financial and general business Northwest. B.C., Alberta, Montana, Idaho, Utah, applications. and Nevada to Mexico.  PNWER promotes greater regional  Increasing energy demand will bring cooperation between governments  States and provinces in the region growing needs for engineering services and business to enhance the support the Canada-U.S. Shared such as drilling. region's global competitiveness. Border Accord, streamlining of border  Agricultural products, environmental and operations, and development of joint forestry products and practices, energy,  PNWER was created in 1991 by customs and immigration facilities. legislation passed in each of the education, and tourism are growing member jurisdictions (Alaska,  Intelligent Transportation Systems, sectors. Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Joint Use Vehicle Inspection Station  Business opportunities also exist for Montana, Oregon, Washington, and (JUVIS), joint permitting of trucks and watershed management, cleaning up Yukon). planning for intermodal transportation chemical emissions and improving the are areas of cooperation between recycling rate.  Saskatchewan joined PNWER in May states and provinces in the region. 2008.  The Pacific Northwest states oppose DID YOU KNOW?  Northwest Territories joined PNWER entry-exit measures that would in July 2009.  Studies have indicated that attitudes and disrupt cross-border business travel. values of Albertans and residents of the TRADE AND INVESTMENT AGRICULTURE Pacific Northwest have more in common with each other than with other regions  Alberta’s total exports to the Pacific  The PNWER agriculture session is an of their own countries. Northwest states averaged $11.59 opportunity for Alberta to continue the

CDN billion from 2007-2011. leadership it has assumed in  Alberta’s total domestic exports to promoting agriculture dialogue and the Pacific Northwest states in 2011 cooperation.

totaled $11.60 CDN billion.  Oregon and Washington are both  Alberta’s merchandise exports to the important export markets and U.S. have averaged $72.54 billion alternate transportation routes for over the last five years. exporting Alberta agricultural products to California, Mexico and the Pacific ENERGY Rim.  Alberta is working with PNWER to  Regional transboundary agricultural encourage new electricity cooperation is an ongoing Alberta transmission infrastructure that objective. Recent successes include would allow export of cogeneration the Restricted Feeder Cattle Entry electricity from Alberta oilsands. Program, numerous agricultural conferences and cooperation on  The PNWER region is a significant transportation. market for Alberta oil.  PNWER states provide an important market and conduit to California for

Alberta natural gas.

SHARED ORGANIZATIONS RECENT VISITS/MISSIONS DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION  Pacific NorthWest Economic Region  January 2013: PNWER state capital  The U.S. Ambassador to Canada in (PNWER) visit to Helena, Montana, Olympia, Ottawa is David Jacobson. Washington, Boise, Idaho and Juneau,  Montana-Alberta Bilateral Advisory Alaska.  The Canadian Ambassador to the Council (MABAC) U.S. in Washington, D.C. is Gary  November 2012: PNWER Winter Doer.  Pacific Northwest Economic meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Development Council  The Canadian Consulate General in  August 2012: Representatives of Seattle serves Alaska, Washington,  Tri-National Agricultural Accord academia and think tanks participated Idaho and Oregon. Denis Stevens is  Council of State Governments – in a site visit of the oil sands as part of the Consul General. WEST (CSG-WEST) the West Coast Think Tanks delegation.  The Canadian Consulate General in  Western Association of State Denver serves Montana within the Highway and Transportation Officials  July 2012: PNWER Summer Meeting in PNWER Region. Marcy Grossman is (WASHTO) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan the Consul General.  Western Governors’ Association  March 2012: PNWER Arctic Caucus  The U.S. Consul General located in (WGA) Roundtable and Energy Council Calgary responsible for Alberta is Meetings in Washington, D.C. Peter Kujawinski.  Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB)  January 2012: PNWER state capital visit to Juneau, Alaska.  Western Legislative Forestry Task Force  July 2011: PNWER Summer Meeting in Portland, Oregon.

 April 2011: Minister Iris Evans mission to Bellingham and Seattle, Washington  January and February 2011: PNWER state capital visits to Olympia, WA;

Boise, ID; Helena, MT; and Salem, OR.  December 2010: PNWER Arctic Caucus meeting in Barrow, Alaska.  November 2010: PNWER Winter meeting in Stevenson, Washington.  July 2010: PNWER Summer Meeting in Calgary, Alberta.

For more information, contact: Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations Tel: 780-427-6543 Fax: 780-427-0699 www.albertacanada.com