04/22/2003 04:00 PM Senate STA

         SJR 17-ALASKA-YUKON INTERGOV RELATIONS ACCORD                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DAVE GRAY, Staff to Senator Donny Olson, paraphrased from the                                                                   
sponsor statement:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     SJR 17 is a resolution  supporting the extension of the                                                                    
     Alaska-Yukon  Intergovernmental Relations  Accord. This                                                                    
     accord is set to expire on September 8, 2003.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     The State of  Alaska and the Yukon  Territory of Canada                                                                    
     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. We co-                                                                     
     manage important  fish and  game resources  that trans-                                                                    
     migrate our boundaries.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     With  the pending  gas pipeline  and  other matters  of                                                                    
     potential  resource use,  exploration and  development,                                                                    
     it is essential  for Alaska and the  Yukon Territory to                                                                    
     work  cooperatively  together  for  the  wise  use  and                                                                    
     benefit of our bountiful resources.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     This year  I 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                                                                    
     well being.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JOHN COWDERY asked if, in addition to the gas line,                                                                     
there were cross border dealings on major products.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRAY replied Skagway is viewed as a saltwater port for the                                                                  
mineral development and transport in the Yukon and Whitehorse                                                                   
uses Skagway as a tourism resource.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRED DYSON stated Yukon companies would like to sell                                                                    
lumber across the border.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
He made a motion to move SJR 17 from committee with individual                                                                  
recommendations. There being no objection, it was so ordered.