05/06/2003 08:06 AM House STA

SJR 17 - ALASKA-YUKON INTERGOV RELATIONS ACCORD                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Number 0052                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH announced that the  first order of business would                                                               
be SENATE JOINT  RESOLUTION NO. 17, Relating  to the Alaska-Yukon                                                               
Intergovernmental   Relations  Accord,   to  annual   legislative                                                               
exchanges, and  to continuing  intergovernmental work  on matters                                                               
of joint concern and mutual interest.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Number 0081                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DONNY OLSON,  Alaska  State  Legislature, sponsor,  said                                                               
that  SJR   17  supports  the   extension  of   the  Alaska-Yukon                                                               
Intergovernmental  Relations Accord,  which is  currently set  to                                                               
expire on September  8, 2003.  Alaska and the  Yukon territory of                                                               
Canada, he  remarked, share  not only a  long, common  border but                                                               
also a connected history of  resource development and pre-contact                                                               
ethnography.   In the past,  Alaska and the Yukon  territory have                                                               
enjoyed  mutual   prosperity  from   joint  efforts   in  mineral                                                               
exploration  and development,  and currently  co-manage important                                                               
fish  and  game resources  that  transmigrate  borders.   With  a                                                               
pending  gas pipeline  and other  matters  of potential  resource                                                               
use, exploration,  and development,  it is essential,  he opined,                                                               
for   Alaska   and  the   Yukon   territory   to  work   together                                                               
cooperatively to ensure the wise use of resources.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON went on to say:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     This  year,  I and  a  number  of others  attended  the                                                                    
     annual legislative  exchange with our  Yukon colleagues                                                                    
     in  Whitehorse.    The meetings  and  discussions  that                                                                    
     ensued  underscore  the  importance of  continuing  the                                                                    
     Alaska-Yukon  Intergovernmental  Relations  Accord  for                                                                    
     our future  economic growth and wellbeing.   With that,                                                                    
     I  respectfully urge  your  favorable  support of  this                                                                    
     resolution.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM mentioned that she  was one of those who                                                               
attended the aforementioned  exchange, adding that it  was a very                                                               
productive meeting and  that she is looking forward  to many good                                                               
things resulting from it.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 0240                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report  SJR 17 out of committee                                                               
with individual recommendations and  the accompanying zero fiscal                                                               
note.   There being no  objection, SJR  17 was reported  from the                                                               
House State Affairs Standing Committee.