Alberta launches $3.8M campaign in Washington

A number of high-profile Albertans are descending this week onWashington, D.C., ona $3.8-million campaign meant to convince U.S. decision-makers that the province is an important trading partner.

Premier Ralph Klein, a number of cabinet ministers, municipal politicians and university officials will be in the U.S. capital over the next four days.

The provincial government is spending $3.8 million hosting various events in Washington, includingreceptions and forums on energy, agriculture and technology. It all culminatesin the Friday opening of a 10-day cultural exhibit on Alberta at the renowned Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

The event is expected to attracted 1.2 million visitors.

"It's a chance for American decision-makers, American policy-makers, opinion influencers, to meet and find out a little bit more about Alberta and what makes this province as great as it is," said Murray Smith, the province's representative in the U.S. capitol.

'We want to, as a province, punch above our weight in terms of trade and international relations.' -Gary Mar, Alberta's intergovernmental affairs minister

As part of the Alberta invasion, a huge yellow dump trucklike those used in the oilsands near Fort McMurray is on display in Washington's National Mall as a symbol of the province's economic prosperity.

"We want to, as a province, punch above our weight in terms of trade and international relations," said Alberta's intergovernmental affairs minister, Gary Mar.

"Right now, approximately 90 per cent of our trade exports from Alberta go into the U.S. That's approximately just over $70 billion a year."

Great timing for push,analyst says

While it's clear one of the main messages is the potential of Alberta's vast oil sands, Mar almost bristles at the suggestion that increased oil trade is the only objective.

He said the effort'sfocus is wide-ranging and includesshowcases of Alberta's post-secondary education resources, agriculture and technology.

David Biette, the director of the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, told the Canadian Press that the timing of Alberta's big push in Washington couldn't be better.

"We have major price problems at the pump. Alberta knows it has something Americans want."