Alberta/Montana

[coppertop]

Alberta-Montana working group meets in Helena

Mission to promote bilateral relations, common interests

Edmonton... Alberta's relationship with its only U.S. border state will be the subject of Montana-Alberta Bilateral Advisory Council meetings May 11-12. Key discussion topics include agriculture, water, transportation and cross-border emergency services.

"As Alberta's only border state, it is important that we maintain strong and productive ties with Montana," said Gary Mar, Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations. Mar will be leading Alberta's delegation to Helena, the capital of Montana. "The council is a valuable forum for dialogue and serves as an early warning system to resolve potential problems."

The council, made up of Alberta and Montana legislators, was created in 1986 to pursue joint interests and enhance transboundary dialogue and cooperation. Alberta's relationship with Montana is comprehensive, covering a wide range of common interests. As Alberta's 12th-largest export market, Montana purchased an annual average of C$1.45 billion in goods and services from Alberta in 2001-05.

Alberta's delegation includes Mar; Rob Renner, Minister of Municipal Affairs; Doug Horner, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development; Barry McFarland, Associate Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation; MLAs George Groeneveld and Leonard Mitzel; and an executive assistant. The mission's cost is estimated at $3,700.

[wd40]

A buch of dead weight on that bus. I had one of those Cab Min tell me during BSE that the beef industry needed to cowboy-up. For a prairie farmer he should loose his govt. pension and seat.

[coppertop]

I think that all cabinet ministers are travelling wherever they can now because some may not have a porfolio after the leadership convention !! One would hope that they could do some good by having a meeting in Montana but I certainly question why so many needed to attend !

[PureCountry]

Why do they need to attend? 3 words...Old Boy's Club. Oh, and uh, 5 more words....paid for by taxpayer's dollars.

[coppertop]

I am meeting my MLA next week, so I will ask him why such a large contingent was necessary and whether or not there will be feedback on the results of the trip posted on the government website.

[cowman]

Now I'm going to disagree with you guys on this one!
I think it is very important to keep connections open with our neighbor to the south. I would suggest to you that we have a lot more in common with Montana than we do with either Ontario or Quebec?
Alberta and Montana do a lot of business together. The good road(maybe the best in the state) from Coutts to Shelby was built for one reason...to get Alberta products to the railroad at Shelby! Guess who paid for it...the people of Alberta!
And despite the Alberta haters(Willowcreek??R-CALF) in Montana, there has always been a healthy relationship in agriculture products between the state and province? Breeding stock has always moved both ways and feed and hay as well. I know thirty years ago we certainly welcomed Montana bull buyers!
Alberta needs to keep the lines open to communication? Washington and Ottawa are distant and I doubt either care all that much about us peasants out here in the boondocks! We need to learn to co-operate and take care of business despite federal interference.
Just my opinion.

[coppertop]

There have been discussions in caucus here that Alberta should fund some infrastructure in other provinces to ensure our products can get to market.

My suggestion is that if we need trained tradesmen we should consider building or expanding a top notch volcational college in the maritimes so those folks are already trained when they come here to work, and the Alberta Advantage can be spread across this country in areas where both other Canadians and our industries in this province can benefit.

I think we need to work with the Montana government on all issues that face trade between our jurisdictions, but RCALF does pose a problem.

[grassfarmer]

That may be great for the industries of Alberta but what does it do for the long term prospects of the Maritimes? It just speeds up the drain of people from these places rather than see them build their own futures on their home territory. Teach a man to fish.. and all that, but only if he agrees to fish in the oilpatch.

[coppertop]

grassfarmer, the first people you should ask that question to are the maritimers themselves. I am willing to bet they would be extremely pleased to see training centres close to home so young people would at least remain in their communities a few more years, and in case you aren't aware there is a petroleum industry offshore in the maritimes where their training could be put to use close to home.

I think it is far to simple for government to buy in to but industry would likely partner with government to establish a centre in the east coast. It must be costly to fly maritime residents out to Alberta, then train them before they can be a productive employee. Why not spend tne money training them at home then bring them to Alberta ?

[Willowcreek]

Cowman- I'm going to agree with you...I think its important to work on the trade relations to the 2 countries- mainly because I can remember back to those days 20-30 years ago (pre-NAFTA and pre Canada calling ALL US cattle diseased)--There was quite a flow of people back and forth- both on business and vacationing...Sometimes could walk in the local water hole and it would be full of some of the northern neighbors-and many US ranchers couldn't wait until certain Canadian bull sales came up- a 2 or 3 day road trip for a few of the boys to escape the ranch-even if they didn't buy anything...Probably 1/3 of the traffic by the north ranch was Canadian-Now if you see a Canadian vehicle in this area, its a rarity...Met a Sask car on the road the other day and the grandkid didn't even know what the license plates looked like...

I was just thinking about this the other day- a local border town rodeo that has been going for 40 years is quitting- can't draw enough contestants...Years ago 1/2 of the contestants were from Canada-sanctioned by both countries- but in the last 10 years I haven't seen a Canadian cowboy there...

I guess your delegation was left a little speechless when the Lt. Governor suggested that Alberta and Canada should help pay part of the cost of the $120 million bill for rebuilding the St. Mary canel!!!!

[coppertop]

Canadian bucking bulls used to draw the good cowboys willowcreek, many of them made it to the NFR, and without the rodeo bulls allowed across the border its likely that many of the border rodeos aren't getting as many contestants.
Canadian cowboys can rodeo up here and ride some of the best stock available, then if they are lucky they can take a run at the NFR.

[grassfarmer]

coppertop, I'm assuming that it's not every maritimers ambition to work in Alberta. Another way to look at it might be to suggest that people that have come to Alberta and made good, whether it be from Newfoundland, Saskatchewan or India go home and try and bring the level of prosperity they have witnessed here to their home territory. It's a shame when some of the most able people are drawn to another province - good for the "receiving" province but bad for the "losing" province.

[coppertop]

I agree that it is unfortunate that people have to leave their home to make a living but many people overtime have done so, not only left their home province but their country to make a better life in a new land.

This province is stronger because of all the various cultures here, and maritime folks certainly have added to it.

[cowman]

Willowcreek: Not sure whether you hate us or welcome us from your post, but whatever!
You really need to get over your "All diseased cattle" thing? It simply is not true. Yes you had to get a $5 test...just like the bulls we sent to Montana needed a test for Bangs and TB? Were ALL OUR CATTLE DISEASED, too?
I would suggest to you that there should be a big influx of tourists from Canada the way your dollar is crashing! However this security crap at the border is not helpful and I think this joint Montana/Alberta thing came out and said that very plainly? I don't know if you ever venture into Canada but you might just be real surprized that we aren't any different than you? We aren't out to destroy you, we put our pants on one leg at a time just like you, and we have no desire to take over your country! We just want to do business with you and be good neighbors!
Its funny...everytime I go to Montana I find the people very friendly and eager for the Canadian buck...and then we have the R-CALFS of the world trying to screw things up, for their own greedy little reasons! The sad part is they just don't get it...trade would make them more money, not less.