SJR 15: Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and the state; and recognizing the importance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
00 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15 01 Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and the state; and 02 recognizing the importance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. 03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 WHEREAS both Canada and the state are blessed with extraordinary natural 05 environments, valuable natural resources, and indigenous knowledge that stretches back 06 millennia; and 07 WHEREAS Canada and the state have worked together to create jobs through 08 integrated economies, to protect our shared environment, airspace, and border, and to defend 09 North America from threats; and 10 WHEREAS the citizens of Canada and the citizens of the state have developed deep 11 friendships, family ties, and collaborative relationships over the course of history; and 12 WHEREAS the United States and Canada have developed one of the most successful 13 international relationships in the modern world, sharing a vibrant history of democratic 14 governance, military and economic partnerships, and cultural ties; and 15 WHEREAS the United States and Canada have battled COVID-19 together, have 16 suffered loss together, and are committed to building back our economies better, more
01 equitably and more sustainably; and 02 WHEREAS the United States and Canada share the world's longest border at 5,522 03 miles, 1,538 miles of which are along the state's eastern frontier with the Yukon Territory and 04 the Province of British Columbia; and 05 WHEREAS both countries benefit from the efficient and secure movement of people 06 and goods between countries, including as partners in a vibrant regional cruise industry; and 07 WHEREAS the United States is Canada's premier partner in the Arctic, and 08 cooperation between Canada and the state is longstanding, including on economic 09 opportunities, health, education, energy security, environmental protection, infrastructure, and 10 public safety issues; and 11 WHEREAS Canada and the state strive to advance the goal of sustaining healthy and 12 resilient Arctic and northern peoples and communities, by strengthening indigenous, 13 economic, cultural, and family connections across the region; and 14 WHEREAS the United States and Canada have the largest, most comprehensive and 15 balanced trade relationship in the world, totaling $612,000,000,000 in 2019; and 16 WHEREAS the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) provides the 17 framework for much of this bilateral trade and has provided important updates to the North 18 American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), while continuing to grow both economies; and 19 WHEREAS the state has a vibrant, balanced trade relationship with Canada, totaling 20 $1,300,000,000, including hundreds of millions of dollars worth of metals, minerals, energy, 21 and seafood; and 22 WHEREAS more than 10,900 jobs in the state rely on trade and investment with 23 Canada, and more than 50 Canadian-owned companies operate in the state, employing 4,500 24 residents throughout the state and contributing more than $265,000,000 in salaries; and 25 WHEREAS tourism between Canada and the state is another key component of the 26 economic relationship, and, in recent years, more than 325,000 Canadians visited the state 27 annually, spending more than $316,000,000 in the state; and 28 WHEREAS Canada and the state share diverse transportation links by road and by 29 sea, including the Alaska Highway, constructed during World War II to benefit our shared 30 defense, the Alaska marine highway system's terminal at Prince Rupert, and the uniquely 31 interdependent communities of Stewart, British Columbia, and Hyder, Alaska; and
01 WHEREAS, for over 60 years, Canada and the United States have been partners in 02 the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), with the Alaska NORAD 03 region proudly commanded out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson by an American 04 Commander and Canadian Deputy Commander; 05 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the vibrancy and 06 importance of the Alaska-Canada relationship as the world increasingly recognizes the 07 strategic, economic, environmental, and cultural importance of the Arctic; and be it 08 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature believes that Canada and 09 the state must continue to work together to make our citizens' lives better, safer, and more 10 prosperous; and be it 11 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the importance 12 of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in the economic and trade relationship 13 between our nations and the outstanding economic relationship between Canada and the state; 14 and be it 15 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature honors the state's alliance 16 with Canada and looks forward to many more years of cooperation, friendship, trade, tourism, 17 cultural exchange, and good will. 18 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, President 19 of the United States; the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada; the 20 Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada; the Honorable Antony 21 Blinken, United States Secretary of State; the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign 22 Affairs; the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence; the Honorable Lloyd 23 Austin, United States Secretary of Defense; General Glen D. VanHerck, Commander, North 24 American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command; Lieutenant- 25 General Alain Pelletier, Deputy Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command; 26 Brandon Lee, Consul General to Alaska; and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the 27 Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, 28 members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.