(Juneau) - Representative Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage) and Senator Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River) are hosting a delegation of Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) officers this week in the state capital.

Representative McGuire who serves as PNWER Vice President and Senator Dyson who is a past president of the organization are thrilled to have lawmakers from the Northwest United States and Canada in Alaska to discuss issues of importance to the region. Among the topics to be covered, tourism, transportation, energy and homeland security.

"It is great to have colleagues from British Columbia, Yukon & Northwest states here in Alaska. Opportunities like this benefit us all and I am so pleased as newly elected Vice President of PNWER to welcome our friends. These exchanges provide valuable opportunities to discuss resource development and cross-border transportation and tourism projects with our neighbors in Canada and the pacific northwest," said Representative McGuire.

"PNWER allows representatives from all over the pacific northwest an opportunity to exchange ideas and information, as well as the chance to collaborate on projects important to Alaska and the entire area," said Senator Dyson. "As a former President of this organization, I welcome the officers and hope that we have a productive visit in Juneau."

Visiting Juneau is Representative Glenn Anderson, President of PNWER from Washington State and other officers of the organization including the Honorable Jim Kenyon, Minister of Economic Development for the Yukon; the Honorable John van Dongen, Minister of State Intergovernmental Relations for British Columbia; the Honorable Rob Renner, Minister of Municipal Affairs for Alberta; and Representative George Eskridge, Idaho State House of Representatives.

Members of the delegation will be available in the Speaker's Chambers on the 2nd floor of the Capitol from 1:00-1:30pm on Thursday, January 12, 2006.

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