Garth Rowswell, MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright, and Justin Wright, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, will be Alberta’s representatives at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) capital tours. The MLAs will voice Alberta’s key interests and boost bilateral cooperation with government representatives, state legislators and industry leaders at meetings on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7. 

This trip comes on the heels of PNWER capital tours to Olympia, Wash., and Juneau, Alaska, in January and will provide another opportunity to champion Alberta as a reliable global supplier of value-added agriculture and agri-food products, as well as a leader in reducing emissions and emerging energy products like hydrogen. 

“Alberta’s involvement in PNWER strengthens our economic interests and reinforces relationships with key decision makers in the region. I look forward to telling the Alberta story to our counterparts in Oregon and discovering even more ways to grow and diversify our province.”

Garth Rowswell, MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright

“Our government is laser-focused on creating opportunities and generating new markets for Alberta. These latest meetings will build on recent engagement in the region, solidifying even more areas of cooperation and helping to create jobs and opportunities on both sides of the border.”

Justin Wright, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat

PNWER is a non-partisan, public/private partnership that was established in 1991 to advance the economic well-being, quality of life and common interests of its 10 member jurisdictions, which include the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington, the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Mission expenses will be posted on the travel and expense disclosure page.

Quick facts

  • The United States is Alberta’s largest trading partner and Alberta is the largest provincial exporter to the U.S.
  • The Pacific Northwest is an important trade region for Alberta. In 2022, bilateral trade between Alberta and the PNWER U.S. member states totalled more than US$19.2 billion.
    • This included US$1.4 billion in bilateral trade between Oregon and Alberta.
  • In 2022, Alberta’s exports to Oregon totalled US$1.2 billion.
    • Top exports included energy, wood, chemical products, meat and machinery.

Itinerary for MLAs Rowswell and Wright*

Feb. 5
  • Travel to Salem, Ore.

Feb. 6-7
  • Meet with government, legislative and private sector leaders

Feb. 8
  • Return to Alberta

*Subject to change

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