Saskatchewan agriculture minister Lyle Stewart was named president of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region’s executive committee yesterday.
He is the first Saskatchewan official to head the organization since the province joined PNWER in 2008.
PNWER members consist of public and private sector officials representing Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Yukon and Northwest Territories and five northwestern states.
Members are in Saskatoon this week for the organization’s annual summit, where officials are discussing a number of cross-border trade issues.
Stewart said he wants agriculture to be a priority for the organization.
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“We need to do some things that, I think, will promote Saskatchewan within the region,” said Stewart. “I’d like to do some things around giving agriculture a higher profile.”
The summit’s agenda covers transportation, tourism, biofuel and hot topic issues like oil and mining development.
Stewart highlighted discussions concerning livestock traceability and the spread of invasive species as topics of interest under the ag portfolio.
Stewart was previously vice-president of the executive committee, which supports electronic certification for livestock crossing the border.
“We’ve all seen situations where contentious issues have been resolved or mitigated by good relations between premiers and governors and I think we need to encourage that and this can be a forum for that,” said Stewart.
