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By rdnewsNOW staff

U.S. relations

Alberta MLAs travel to Boston this weekend for National Conference of State Legislators

Aug 1, 2025 | 3:24 PM

A trio of Alberta MLAs are headed to the National Conference of State Legislators in Boston this weekend.

From Aug. 2-7, Glenn Van Dijken (Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock), and Chelsae Petrovic (Livingstone-Macleod) will represent Alberta in the push for a barrier-free trade relationship with the U.S. at the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) 50th annual summit.

MLA Angela Pitt (Airdrie-East) was also supposed to attend, but was unable to go due to unforeseen circumstances.

While there, MLAs plan to discuss Alberta as a secure and reliable energy and agricultural partner and will advocate for cross-border pipelines, and protect and strengthen a trade and investment relationship that promotes mutual economic growth and stability.

“It is vitally important that Alberta is well-represented in discussions that have the potential to significantly affect our province’s future – especially as Canada strives to reach a new economic deal with the U.S.,” said Angela Pitt, MLA for Airdrie-East, in a press release.

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On Aug. 3, they’ll participate in the NCSL-led international and executive committee meetings and roundtables prior to the start of the annual summit.

That will be followed by meetings and roundtables at the NCSL annual summit and hosting key U.S. decision makers at an Alberta government reception from Aug. 4-6.

“Promoting increased access to U.S. markets for Alberta’s farmers, ranchers and agri-processors will be at the top of my agenda when I take my seat on this year’s NCSL Agriculture Task Force,” said Glenn Van Dijken, MLA for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock. “Our producers put top-quality food on American tables, and I will leverage these discussions to reinforce the key role Alberta can play in establishing North American, and global, food security.”

Alberta government quick facts

• The U.S. is Alberta’s largest trading partner, and Alberta is the second-largest provincial exporter to the U.S. after Ontario.
• In 2024, Alberta’s exports to the U.S. totalled C$162.1 billion, accounting for 88.7 per cent of total provincial exports. The U.S. is also an important source of industrial inputs and consumer goods for the province.
  • Energy products accounted for about $133.4 billion, 82.3 per cent of Alberta’s exports to the U.S. in 2024.
  • Other important export categories to the U.S. in 2024 included plastics ($4.3 billion), machinery ($3.4 billion), meat ($3 billion), organic chemicals ($2.1 billion) and forestry products ($2 billion).
  • The U.S. is Alberta’s most valuable export market for agricultural products. In 2024, Alberta exported $9.2 billion in ag products to the U.S., a four per cent increase from 2023.