News from the Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

For Immediate Release: March 14, 1997 Contact: Senator Randy Phillips 907/465-3822

Northern "Neighbours" Hold Legislative Exchange

Juneau -- Exchanging ideas, sharing concerns and working toward the mutual interests of northerners living in the arctic and subarctic is the goal behind the Alaska/Yukon annual legislative exchange slated for March 16-18 this year at Yukon’s Capitol in Whitehorse.

"We share many cultural, economic, environmental and social ties with Canada’s Yukon Territory," said Senator Randy Phillips, who has participated in the exchanges since they began in 1981. "We need to actively protect and strengthen these ties for the mutual benefit of people living in both jurisdictions; for everything from transportation and tourism, to economic development and fish and game management."

In addition to Senator Phillips, Senators Bert Sharp and Lyman Hoffman and Representatives Al Vezey, Joe Green, Fred Dyson, Bill Hudson and Jeannette James will attend this year’s exchange in Whitehorse.

One of the top issues on this year’s agenda, said Phillips, is the reconstruction of 104 miles of the Alaska Highway between Haines Junction and Burwash Landing in the Yukon Territory.

The Alaska State Legislature passed Senate Joint Resolution 12 on March 12, 1997, asking the United States Congress to allocate $94 million to renovate this section of the Alaska Highway. Once complete, maintenance of the highway reverts to Yukon.

"Both Yukon and Alaska’s commerce and tourism would be crippled without a commitment to maintaining good all-weather roadways between the Southeast and Interior," Phillips said.

Additional topics this year will include: Oil and gas development in the Arctic Coastal Plain, mining, Native land claims, wildlife issues including management of the Porcupine caribou herd, Yukon River fisheries, the Arctic Winter Games, economic/commerce relations and ways to boost tourism.

"The Yukon Territorial Government contributes $300 thousand to the Alaska State budget in a cooperative effort to promote and boost tourism in the North," said Phillips.

The Alaska Legislature and the Yukon Territorial Legislative Assembly meet every year, alternating locations between Juneau and Whitehorse.

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Broadcast Note: Radio actualities will be available at 3 pm, March 14 from Senator Randy Phillips by calling 800/478-6540.
| Audio clip in "Real Audio" format |