Alberta to open trade offices in Seattle, Chicago, and Denver in 2022
Alberta is expanding its footprint in the U.S., with plans to open a trio of new trade offices in Chicago, Seattle and Denver in 2022.
The province made the announcement Thursday in a release, as well as a press conference featuring Alberta's Minister of Jobs, Economy and InnovationDoug Schweitzer.
"It's important for Alberta to have a voice in the United States," Schweitzer said. "There's an opportunity here for Albertans to engage, make sure that our voices are heard in the United States with our largest trading partner.
"We want to make sure Alberta's voice is heard in the United States," he added, "on policy interests and economic interests that are relevant to our people."
Illinois, with $25.8 billion and Washington State, with $7.5 billion, are Alberta's largest trading partners in the U.S.
The trio of trade offices will be opened in Canadian consulates in each city, at no additional expense to Alberta taxpayers.
The Seattle and Chicago offices will open June 1, while the Denver trade office will open when an office comes available in Denver.
Alberta already has trade offices in Washington, D.C., and Mexico.
According to the province, the U.S. accounted for $77.5 billion, or 85 per cent of Alberta's overall exports in 2020.
"With increased risk of protectionism, it’s critical we continue to grow our presence in key markets in the United States to ensure we can bring more Alberta goods and services to our largest trading partner," said Deborah Yedlin, President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. "This move is an opportunity to keep existing doors open, open new doors for Alberta businesses to expand their markets, as well strengthen supply chains."
"The economies of Alberta and the United States are increasingly interdependent as physical infrastructure, trade and investment flows grow across North America," said Edmonton Global CEO Malcolm Bruce. "The expansion of Alberta's U.S. trade office network will serve to enhance the strong ties we already have with our southern neighbours and ensure we are connecting into all of the strategic markets in the U.S. and Mexico that support our regional strengths."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
Families shocked after Niagara Falls hotel cancels bookings made year in advance of solar eclipse
After having the foresight to book their Niagara Falls hotel rooms more than a year in advance, several families planning to take in the solar eclipse next month were shocked to find out their reservations had been cancelled.
B.C. rescuers face 'high likelihood' of failure to reunite orphaned orca with pod
The race to reunite an orphaned orca calf that’s stuck in a shallow lagoon with a neighbouring pod has entered its fifth day, and a marine scientist says the clock is ticking.
Video shows police interrupting auto theft in progress outside Toronto home
New video footage obtained by CP24 shows the attempted theft of a vehicle in a North York driveway earlier this month that was ultimately interrupted by police.
What happens after we die? Most Canadians say an afterlife does exist, survey shows
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute has found that a majority of Canadians believe in some form of life after death, a proportion that has held steady for decades.