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CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESO LUTION NO. 11(RES) am
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION
BY THE HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Amended: 3/24/25
Offered: 3/17/25
Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES KOPP, Saddler, Story, Dibert, Fields, Holland, Gray, Eischeid, Burke, Hall,
Bynum, Mina, Schwanke, Hannan, Josephson, Himschoot, Galvin, Stutes, Schrage
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and Alaska. 1
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 2
WHEREAS Canada and the United States share the world's longest international 3
border, spanning 5,511 miles, with Alaska and Canada sharing 1,538 miles of that border, 4
which serves as a vital corridor for trade, travel, and cross-border cooperation; and 5
WHEREAS Canada is Alaska's only neighbor, reinforcing a unique and deeply 6
interconnected relationship built on geography, history, and mutual economic and cultural 7
ties; and 8
WHEREAS both Canada and Alaska are blessed with extraordinary natural 9
environments, valuable natural resources, and shared cultures that stretch back millennia; and 10
WHEREAS Canada and Alaska have worked together to create jobs through 11
integrated economies, to protect our shared environment, airspace, and border, and to defend 12
North America from threats; and 13
WHEREAS the citizens of Canada and the citizens of Alaska have developed deep 14
friendships, family ties, and collaborative relationships over the course of history; and 15
WHEREAS Alaska and Canada have long supported international sporting and 16 34-LS0532\H.A
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cultural exchanges, which promote youth development, athletic excellence, and cross-cultural 1
understanding between the northern communities of the United States and Canada; and 2
WHEREAS the United States and Canada have developed one of the most successful 3
international relationships in the modern world, sharing a vibrant history of democratic 4
governance, military and economic partnerships, and cultural ties; and 5
WHEREAS the United States and Canada have been close allies, serving on 6
battlefields alongside one another in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Gulf 7
War, the Kosovo War, and the War on Terror, including the Global Coalition against Daesh; 8
and 9
WHEREAS the United States and Canada have been partners in the Permanent Joint 10
Board on Defense since 1940, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization since 1949, and the 11
North American Aerospace Defense Command since 1958, with Alaska's North American 12
Aerospace Defense Command region proudly commanded out of Joint Base Elmendorf-13
Richardson by an American Commander and a Canadian Deputy Commander; and 14
WHEREAS Canada has provided aid to the United States in times of need, including 15
the Iran hostage crisis, the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, 16
Hurricane Katrina, wildfires in Alaska and across the United States, and other disasters; and 17
WHEREAS Alaska recognizes the importance of a strong and sovereign nation of 18
Canada and firmly supports Canada's right to self-determination, national security, and 19
economic independence; and 20
WHEREAS Canada and Alaska strive to advance the goal of sustaining healthy and 21
resilient Arctic and northern peoples and communities by strengthening economic, cultural, 22
and family connections across the region and by recognizing the historical trade and relations 23
of tribes on both sides of today's border; and 24
WHEREAS the vast, glaciated Taku, Stikine, Unuk, Salmon, and other transboundary 25
rivers that flow from the boreal forest of British Columbia into Southeast Alaska have been 26
centers of culture and commerce for thousands of years for people on both sides of the Alaska 27
and Canada border, and the State of Alaska, the Province of British Columbia, the United 28
States, Canada, Indigenous governments, and communities have the opportunity to work 29
together to steward shared resources, while also ensuring commitments outlined in current 30
agreements are upheld; and 31 34-LS0532\H.A
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WHEREAS both Canada and the United States benefit from the efficient and secure 1
movement of people and goods between countries, including as partners in vibrant regional 2
cruise industries, fishing industries, resource extraction industries, agricultural industries, 3
energy industries, and medical industries; and 4
WHEREAS the United States is Canada's premier partner in the Arctic, and 5
cooperation between Canada and Alaska is longstanding, including on economic 6
opportunities, health, education, energy, security, environmental protection, infrastructure, 7
and public safety issues; and 8
WHEREAS Alaska annually exports $596,000,000 in goods to Canada, including 9
$438,000,000 in ore and fuel oil; and 10
WHEREAS Alaska annually imports $753,000,000 from Canada, including 11
$370,000,000 in ore and fuel oil; and 12
WHEREAS the United States and Canada have the largest and most comprehensive 13
and balanced trade relationship in the world, totaling $1,000,000,000,000 annually, 14
representing 13.3 percent of total United States trade, with $2,500,000,000 worth of goods 15
and services crossing the United States and Canada border every day; and 16
WHEREAS the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement negotiated in 2018 17
provides the framework for much of this bilateral trade, has provided important updates to the 18
North American Free Trade Agreement, and continues to grow both economies; and 19
WHEREAS more than 20,300 jobs in Alaska rely on trade and investment with 20
Canada, and more than 47 Canadian-owned companies operate in Alaska and employ 4,350 21
residents throughout the state; and 22
WHEREAS Canada and Alaska share diverse transportation links by road and by sea, 23
including the Alaska-Canada Highway, constructed during World War II to benefit our shared 24
defense, the Alaska Marine Highway system, which runs from Bellingham, Washington to 25
Alaska through Canadian water and has a terminal at Prince Rupert, and the uniquely 26
interdependent communities of Stewart, British Columbia, and Hyder, Alaska; and 27
WHEREAS the Alaska-Canada Highway and other vital road connections ser
ve as 28
critical lifelines for the movement of goods, people, and services between Alaska and the rest 29
of the United States through Canadian territory, fostering economic stability and security for 30
both regions; and 31 34-LS0532\H.A
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WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature is deeply concerned by any threats or 1
actions by Canada to shut down roads into Alaska, including the Alaska-Canada Highway, 2
which would disrupt this essential connectivity and undermine the spirit of cooperation 3
enshrined in our shared history and agreements; and 4
WHEREAS such actions could jeopardize funding commitments, including those for 5
the repair and maintenance of the Shakwak road, a project vital to the safety and economic 6
well-being of Alaskans and Canadians alike, as well as threaten the broader framework of 7
Canada-Alaska agreements that support trade, infrastructure, and mutual prosperity; and 8
WHEREAS maintaining open and reliable transportation links is fundamental to 9
honoring the economic, cultural, and strategic partnership between Alaska and Canada, as 10
reinforced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and decades of collaboration; and 11
WHEREAS the imposition of recent proposed tariffs could threaten this unique, 12
mutually beneficial relationship and could harm the economies of both Alaska and Canada, 13
jeopardizing jobs, businesses, and longstanding partnerships; 14
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the vibrancy and 15
importance of the Alaska-Canada relationship as the world increasingly recognizes the 16
strategic, economic, environmental, and cultural importance of the Arctic; and be it 17
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature believes that Canada and 18
Alaska must continue to work together to make our citizens' lives better, safer, more 19
prosperous, and more affordable; and be it 20
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the economic 21
and trade relationships between our nation and Canada and Alaska and Canada; and be it 22
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature opposes restrictive trade 23
measures or tolls that would harm the unique relationship between Canada and Alaska or 24
negatively affect our integrated economies; and be it 25
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature honors Alaska's alliance 26
with Canada and looks forward to many more years of cooperation
, friendship, trade, tourism, 27
cultural exchange, and good will. 28
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President 29
of the United States; the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada; the 30
Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada; the Honourable Mary Ng, 31 34-LS0532\H.A
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Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, of Canada; 1
the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence of Canada; the Honorable Marco 2
Rubio, United States Secretary of State; the Honorable Pete Hegseth, United States Secretary 3
of Defense; General Gregory M. Guillot, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense 4
Command and United States Northern Command; Lieutenant General Blaise F. Frawley, 5
Deputy Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command; Craig Weichel, Consul 6
General of Canada in Seattle, Washington; and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the 7
Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Nicholas Begich, U.S. 8
Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress. 9