Photo by Whitehorse Star
Liberal MLA Paolo Gallina
PNWER summit was fruitful, MLA says
Liberal MLA Paolo Gallina was in Saskatoon last week to attend the 2019 Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) annual summit.
Liberal MLA Paolo Gallina was in Saskatoon last week to attend the 2019 Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) annual summit.
He was acting in his capacity as the Yukon representative for the PNWER executive committee.
Gallina participated in a panel discussion on transportation and infrastructure.
He discussed the Alaska Highway as a critical transportation link for individuals and businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest region, the government said in a statement last Friday.
At a meeting of the executive committee, Gallina put forward a motion requesting a letter of support from PNWER to the U.S. Department of Transportation requesting $25 million US for the Shakwak portion of the Alaska Highway.
The motion received unanimous approval from the committee.
Additionally, Gallina participated in a panel discussions focused on climate policy and economic growth.
He highlighted the government’s support of Yukon First Nation-led renewable solar and wind energy projects in rural communities.
He also attended sessions on forestry and mining, and toured the Boundary Dam Power Station to learn about its carbon capture and storage technology.
This year’s summit focused on policy issues affecting economic development in the region. Those included agriculture, technology and innovation, trade, resource development and a panel on the changing dynamics of Indigenous businesses.
“This was an excellent opportunity to highlight our government’s work with Yukon First Nations to transition our remote communities to clean energy,” Gallina said.
“It also allowed me to emphasize the importance of the Alaska Highway as an economic corridor, and garner support from all our regional partners to lobby the U.S. Department of Transportation for funding to support Alaska’s only land link to the continental United States.
“By sharing insights and best practices, and building strong partnerships, we can increase economic prosperity across the Pacific Northwest,” Gallina added.
The PNWER Foundation is a public-private organization whose members include Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington; Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories; and private sector organizations.
More than 600 key business leaders, legislators and government leaders from the Pacific Northwest region attended this year’s summit.
In 2018, Whitehorse hosted the PNWER Economic Leadership Forum, which focused on First Nations economic development and maximizing economic growth in the North.
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Comments (9)
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Juniper Jackson on Aug 7, 2019 at 10:50 pm
I gripe about the out of territory medical travel constantly. It's like the government see's something wrong with wanting to live. In truth, when you are sick, the last thing you really want is to be in a strange city, with very little money, trying to make it work faster so you can get home to your own bed. People ask me why I don't stay at Easter Seal House, or the cancer house right next to VGH..or other $60. a day places.. well..I'm not the only person going out..there are people from all 3 territory's, and Northern BC, they are generally all booked. This isn't just the Liberals..the Conservatives under Paslowski were just as bad.. another thing..when you are sick you don't care about what party is ruling either.
Anne North, Oya, Gravy Train.. I haven't seen many of your posts, but please keep posting! Common sense posters are few and far between sometimes, and other posters occasionally go 'after' a commenter rather than stay on topic..don't let them chase you away! I love your opinions. Anne: you've got the best idea ever!!
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Gravy train on Aug 7, 2019 at 3:51 pm
Fruitful in terms of his Travel Claim of a few thousand dollars?
Fruitful in terms of using his YG gold card (with Air miles points) for 5 star accommodations and restaurants?
You should see how 'fruitful' it is when I take my mom to Vancouver for medical treatment on $75/day (after the second day) that doesn't cover 1/4 of a modest hotel room.
Keep bellying up to the ol' feed trough there buddy.
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Oya on Aug 7, 2019 at 12:48 pm
@ Anne North: What a great comment! Last time I took a trip out, an ADM was sitting in business class drinking alcohol on OUR dime. The same day there was a GoFund Me page for a Yukoner looking for assistance with medical travel. Is there something wrong with this picture? Certainly in my eyes there is.
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Anne North on Aug 6, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Here's an idea- next time gov is thinking about sending someone to one of these get togethers, offer that person $75 per day all-in and see how many say "pick me". Ordinary Yukoners requiring medical attention outside get $75 for everything - accommodation, meals, transportation - everything. Think about spending 10 days as an outpatient in Vancouver on $75/day. Imagine how smoothly your recovery will progress. Somebody please explain why politicians, political appointees, and government employees don't have to manage on the same $75/day when they travel. How many people don't get medical treatment because they can't afford it but aren't poor enough for welfare.
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Juniper Jackson on Aug 5, 2019 at 4:36 pm
This meeting was 'fruitful'.. besides a letter to the US from PNWER.. what was substantial about this fruitfulness? I think internationally, Canada is not in a good negotiating position right now. Maybe the world is waiting for a PM without 5 ethical guilty charges and a lot of scandals.. In any case, what ever party gets in in the next Yukon election, why aren't you guys using SKYPE? It's always gotta be a 5 Star hotel, unlimited spending accounts?
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Yukoner53 on Aug 3, 2019 at 8:13 pm
@Why - Yukon was taken seriously under Fentie? You mean the guy who could never attend PNWER summits when they happened in the US because he wasn't allowed across the border? He always had to send a lackey without a criminal record, but yes sure, Yukon was definitely 'punching above its wait' under the Yukon Party ahahahaha dream on.
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Moose on Aug 3, 2019 at 7:11 pm
@Why - Who is Fenti (sp)? How come you skipped over Pasloski and the Peel Plan Crew, after all, they were the previous government!
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Groucho d'North on Aug 3, 2019 at 9:28 am
I am curious if the Yukon government has taken a position they can share with the tax-paying public about the proposed new railway that will connect Alaska with southern Canada and beyond? I get the sense that this government is hiding under the covers fearful that they will upset some of the local audience if they support it as did previous Yukon Party governments.
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WHy on Aug 1, 2019 at 1:48 pm
Why did we send an uppity little MLA to a meeting the Minister of Economic Development is supposed to attend? We're becoming a laughingstock in Canada. Whether you hated Fenti or loved him he had us taken seriously nationally and we were regularly punching above our weight. Talking to colleagues across Canada we have now become a joke under the liberals. We aren't even invited to the after hours meetings where most trade negotiations actually take place. It's really sad.