Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Corridor Development Shane Getson will join U.S. legislators, state officials and business leaders for the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) Build Northwest Economic Forum and Rail Summit in Portland, Oregon from Oct. 14 to 17.

Parliamentary Secretary Getson will engage in conversations with U.S. decision makers to reinforce Alberta’s standout trade and investment relationship with the U.S., and what makes our relationship worth strengthening.

As part of the summit, Parliamentary Secretary Getson will moderate a discussion on the key role that regional collaboration plays in strengthening cross-border freight corridors that bring Canadian- and American-made products to market. The session will explore strategies for enhancing rail, road, port and pipeline routes between Canada and the U.S. to secure reliable supply chains that benefit citizens, businesses and industries to the north and south of our shared border.

“I’ve had the privilege of working directly with our U.S. state-level partners to advance the priorities that unite us. I look forward to continuing those conversations to drive real progress — whether that’s by creating economic corridors, expanding opportunities for our energy, aerospace, technology, and agriculture sectors, or by strengthening the foundations of the prosperity that Canada, Alberta, and the U.S. will share for decades to come.”

Shane Getson, MLA for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland, Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Corridor Development, president of PNWER Canada, vice president of PNWER

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 U.S. states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington, the Canadian 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 U.S. is Alberta’s largest trading partner, and Alberta is the second largest provincial exporter to the U.S. after Ontario.
    • In 2024, Alberta’s exports to the U.S. totalled C$162.1 billion, accounting for 88.7 per cent of total provincial exports. The U.S. is also an important source of industrial inputs and consumer goods for the province.
  • The Pacific Northwest is an important trade region for Alberta. In 2024, bilateral trade between Alberta and the PNWER U.S. member states totalled C$21 billion.
  • Alberta is a key trade corridor in the Pacific Northwest region, linking the lower 48 states through Alberta to Yukon and Alaska.
  • Alberta will host the 2026 PNWER Annual Summit in Edmonton from July 19 to 23, welcoming elected officials and stakeholders from across the Pacific Northwest Economic Region to the province.

Itinerary for Parliamentary Secretary Getson*

Oct. 13
  • Travel to Portland, OR.
  • Participate in PNWER pre-programming.

Oct. 14
  • Attend meetings and sessions with U.S. officials, decision makers and business leaders at the PNWER Build Northwest Economic Forum and Pacific Northwest Rail Summit.
  • Moderate a session on cross-border freight corridors.

Oct. 15-17
  • Attend meetings and sessions with U.S. officials, decision makers and business leaders at the PNWER Build Northwest Economic Forum and Pacific Northwest Rail Summit.
  • Travel to Alberta.

*Subject to change.

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