Parliamentary Secretary promotes transportation collaboration at US Rail Summit

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 15, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

Shane Getson, parliamentary secretary for economic corridor development, moderated a discussion Tuesday on the role regional collaboration plays in strengthening cross-border freight corridors at the 34th annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Build Northwest Economic Forum and Rail Summit.

The Summit, held in Portland, Ore. Tuesday through Friday, will hold 18 working group sessions with more than 100 subject matter expert speakers, including U.S. legislators, state officials and business leaders, to discuss regional economic best practices and share trade concerns.

Tuesday, Getson was moderator for a working group session held to explore strategies for enhancing rail, road, port and pipeline routes between Canada and the U.S. to secure reliable supply chains that benefit citizens, businesses and industries on both sides of the border.

“I’ve had the privilege of working directly with our U.S., state-level partners to advance the priorities that unite us. I look forward to continuing those conversations to drive real progress,” said Getson. “Whether that’s by creating economic corridors, expanding opportunities for our energy, aerospace, technology and agriculture sectors, or by strengthening the foundation of the prosperity that Canada, Alberta and the U.S. will share for decades to come.”

In 1991 the summit was established between 10 member jurisdictions – Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

The summit bills itself as a non-partisan, public and private partnership to improve and advance the economic well-being, quality of life and common interests of its member jurisdictions.

Last year, the province’s bilateral trade with Pacific Northwest trade region member states totalled $21 billion, and geographical Alberta is a key trade corridor linking the lower 48 with Alaska.

Today and tomorrow Getson will attend additional meetings and sessions with U.S officials and business leaders and plans to travel back to Alberta tomorrow. Travel expenses will be posted on the province’s Travel and Expense Disclosure web page.

Next year, Edmonton will be host the 35th annual summit from July 19-23.

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