(JUNEAU) - Economic and political leaders from across the Pacific Northwest will be in Juneau on Thursday, January 13, 2005. The leaders are members of the Pacific North West Economic Region. (PNWER)

Senator Fred Dyson (R - Eagle River) is the Immediate Past President of PNWER. Joining him on Thursday in the Capitol Building will be Canadian Consul Karen Matthias, PNWER Executive Director Matt Morrison, Mel Knight, MLA from Alberta, Canada, Henry Han, the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat from Victoria, B.C. and Lawrie Crawford, Director for Yukon Economic Development.

PNWER is a coalition of American states and Canadian provinces, which includes Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and the Yukon Territory. Its mission is to create and sustain economic development in the region.

PNWER has received an appropriation for a Pacific NW Bi-National Energy Planning Initiative to work on energy planning. The organization is also forming a Northern Corridor Development task Force to work on connecting Alaska's railroad with the rest of North America.

Senator Dyson and his guests will be available to answer questions from reporters that day. For more information please contact Senator Dyson's office at (907) 465.2199

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