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By rdnewsNOW staff

Alberta

MLAs travelling to U.S. to promote trade and investment with Alberta

Jul 19, 2024 | 6:06 PM

Government MLAs will promote enhanced trade and investment with the U.S. while in Columbus, Ohio from July 20-25 for the Council of State Governments (CSG) 78th Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual General Meeting.

Government officials say Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland MLA Shane Getson and Calgary-Fish Creek MLA Myles McDougall will travel to join lawmakers, industry representatives, academics and state delegates in an effort to strengthen bilateral co-operation on shared priorities.

Officials say the mission should build on the momentum of a series of MLA trips to Portland, Oregon and Richland, Washington earlier in July and is expected to provide MLAs Getson and McDougall with another platform to champion Alberta’s economic interests with the province’s largest trading partner.

Key focus areas are expected to include identifying ways to advance energy infrastructure that will bring more of Alberta’s responsible energy products to the U.S. market, enhance North American energy security and encourage the flow of people and goods to create jobs, prosperity and economic growth on both sides of the border.

“I am truly honored to have been invited to present our economic corridor model,” says Getson. “This is such an important opportunity to voice Alberta’s perspective to U.S. legislators and build consensus on common interests that will boost trade and investment between Alberta and the U.S. Midwest. The midwestern states are significant trading partners, and through this ongoing engagement and collaboration, we are able to promote our province to them.”

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“Alberta has a great story, and a fantastic future. We look forward to sharing that message,” adds Getson.

Officials note, CSG Midwest is a regional, multilateral forum that brings together lawmakers and government leaders from 11 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario are affiliate members and Saskatchewan is a full member. Alberta has been an associate member since 2010.

Following participation in the CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting, MLA Getson will travel to Whistler, B.C. to join MLAs Wright, de Jonge, Rowswell and Petrovic to advocate for Alberta’s interests at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region’s (PNWER) Annual Summit, which runs from July 21-25.

The U.S. Midwest is the largest trade region for Alberta. Bilateral trade between Alberta and CSG member states totalled more than $102.8 billion in 2023, with Alberta’s exports making up $90.4 billion of that total.

Top exports to the region included:

• Meat: $644 million
• Plastics: $1.9 billion
• Machinery: $967.3 million
• Inorganic chemicals: $616 million
• Energy: $82.3 billion

Itinerary for MLA Getson:

• July 20: Travel to Columbus, O.H.
• July 21: Meetings and sessions with policymakers and industry leaders at the CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting.
• July 22: Travel to Whistler, B.C. for the PNWER Annual Summit.
• July 25: Return to Alberta.

Itinerary for MLA McDougall:

• July 20: Travel to Columbus, O.H.
• July 21-24: Meetings and sessions with policymakers and industry leaders at the CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting.
• July 25: Personal travel.

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