August 12, 2011 - Canadian and U.S. Legislators and business leaders will meet at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) Capital Visit and Arctic Caucus in Yellowknife.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Bob McLeod will host and chair the 2011 PNWER Capital Visit and Arctic Caucus. MLA for Kam Lake and Chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure David Ramsay will also be attending.

The Capital Visit will take place on August 17, and the Arctic Caucus will be held on August 18 – 19, 2011.

Other PNWER members include British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

During the Arctic Caucus, attendees will discuss a number of issues of importance to northerners including:
• Developing Arctic Infrastructure;
• Search and Rescue;
• Oil Spill Response Plans/Technology;
• Mining; and
• Economic Development.

While in Yellowknife, PNWER members will have the opportunity to visit the Giant Mine and attend a presentation on the City of Yellowknife Geothermal Project.

This is the first time a PNWER event has been held in the NWT.

Members of the media are invited to attend a keynote address by Fred Carmichael, Chair of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group:

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2011
Time: 11:50 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Katimavik B Room, Explorer Hotel

Media are required to confirm their attendance at this event.

For more information or to confirm your attendance, please contact:

Alayna Ward
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 920-8696
Email: alayna_ward@gov.nt.ca