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VICTORIA
– The successful launch of the B.C.
Enhanced Driver’s Licence program and the importance of a smooth border
experience for travellers in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic
Games will lead the agenda of John van Dongen, Solicitor General and Minister
of State for Intergovernmental Relations, as he travels to Washington, D.C.
with a delegation from the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER).
“Enhanced
driver’s licences are one part of a better border strategy – one that is smart,
secure, and open to legitimate travel and trade,” van Dongen said. “Reducing
wait times, expanding pre-clearance measures, simplifying
procedures and cutting border transaction costs will be priorities for our meetings in Washington, as
well as the PNWER annual summit in Vancouver this July.”
Van
Dongen joins representatives from Idaho, Oregon, Alaska and Washington for
meetings April 24 and 25 with members of Congress, joint meetings with the
Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group, and meetings with the U.S. departments of Homeland Security, State,
Energy, Commerce, and Labor. Topics include improving the Canada-U.S. border,
climate action, energy and renewable energy opportunities.
“PNWER is a leader
in fostering regional and international co-operation on the region’s most
important economic sectors,” van Dongen
said. “The annual missions to the capitals of PNWER jurisdictions and the
national capitals build important relations and help identify action
opportunities on shared priorities as we move toward the annual PNWER summit.”
“The growth,
diversity and dynamism of the Pacific Northwest region will be on display this
summer, as up to 1,000 delegates from across the region meet in Vancouver at
the PNWER Annual Summit to discuss such priorities as Asia-Pacific trade,
climate action, and keeping the Canada-U.S. border open,” said Matt Morrison,
executive director of PNWER. “PNWER is the only forum that brings Pacific
Northwest legislators and private-sector leaders together to develop regional
solutions to local and global challenges.”
The Pacific North West Economic Region (PNWER)
is a bipartisan public-private cross-border organization. British Columbia has
been a member of PNWER since the organization was founded in 1991. Other member
jurisdictions include Alberta, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and
the Yukon. Visit www.pnwer.org for more
information about the 2008 PNWER summit in Vancouver.
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contact: |
Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat 250 356-7373 |
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