Premier Sandy Silver attended the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) annual summit in Calgary this week.

The conference brought together public and private sector leaders from 10 jurisdictions.

The delegates discussed issues that are common across territorial, provincial and state boundaries in the Pacific Northwest of Canada and the United States.

Among were climate change and clean energy; Arctic security; infrastructure development; economic recovery; agriculture; supply chains; and labour force challenges.

Silver was a featured speaker on a panel entitled Economic Development Challenges in a Volatile Arctic.

He was joined by Alaska Lt.-Gov. Kevin Meyer and Caroline Wawzonek, the Northwest Territories’ Finance and Industry, Tourism and Investment minister.

Silver, who travelled to the event with a team of government officials, discussed the importance of investments in northern communities to support a strong, secure and sovereign Arctic.

He also touched on the Yukon’s efforts to be part of a secure supply chain for the minerals needed to tackle climate change and support the green energy transition.

The panel discussion was moderated by John Higginbotham, an Arctic expert and senior fellow at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs in Ottawa.

Silver also had meetings with diplomatic leaders from Canada and the U.S. to discuss critical minerals, Arctic sovereignty, climate change, strategic infrastructure, the Shakwak highway, tourism and economic development opportunities.

These included meetings with Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S.; Canada’s Consul General in Seattle, Mia Yen; the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, David Cohen and the U.S. Consul General in Calgary, Holly Waeger Monster.

“The PNWER summit brings together legislators and private sector leaders to discuss regional priorities and foster cross-border collaboration,” Silver said in a statement.

“As leaders look to build resiliency and advance economic recovery, it is important to share the Yukon’s vision of a secure and prosperous Arctic and highlight the contributions our territory can make to a greener future within Canada and abroad.”

As premier, he told the Star Tuesday from Calgary, “exchanging business cards and having conversations was a fantastic opportunity for me.”

He said he also raised the connections between climate change and the economy in the communities, the territory’s aggressive pursuit of clean energy options, and the importance that port operations in Skagway have on the Yukon’s economy.

He also raised using collaborative care to encourage healthy communities, and Arctic sovereignty and security, which, he pointed out, “is linked to the vitality of the North. We didn’t have to explain that too much.”

The escalating cost of living and the importance of well-functioning airports and telcommunications systems were also raised, he added.

“We did our best to be the beacon,” he said. “You come to these things cautiously optimistic.”

It’s important for business interests to know, and to relay to their shareholders, that the most remote communities in the North are extremely resilient, he added.

All in all, the premier said, “It was a profound honour to be here.”

The Pacific Northwest Economic Region members are Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

The Yukon joined PNWER in 1994.

PNWER’s mission is to increase the economic well-being and quality of life for all citizens of the region, while maintaining and enhancing our natural environment.