VICTORIA — The Olympic Games are not only an opportunity to bring the world together, but also showcase smooth border travel between Canada and the U.S.

At least B.C. Solicitor General John van Dongen hopes it will be and is taking his case to Washington, D.C.

The solicitor general also acts as B.C.’s Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations and is heading to Washington with a delegation from the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) to discuss a few issues, including the successful launch of the B.C. Enhanced Driver’s Licence program and the importance of a smooth border experience for travellers in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Enhanced driver’s licences are one part of a better border strategy – one that is smart, secure, and open to legitimate travel and trade,” van Dongen said. “Reducing wait times, expanding pre-clearance measures, simplifying procedures and cutting border transaction costs will be priorities for our meetings in Washington, as well as the PNWER annual summit in Vancouver this July.”

B.C. is hoping enhanced driver’s licenses can speed
up the border and are taking their case to Washington.

Van Dongen joins representatives from Idaho, Oregon, Alaska and Washington for meetings April 24 and 25 with members of congress, joint meetings with the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group, and meetings with the U.S. departments of Homeland Security, State, Energy, Commerce, and Labor.

Topics include improving the Canada-U.S. border, climate action, energy and renewable energy opportunities.

“PNWER is a leader in fostering regional and international co-operation on the region’s most important economic sectors,” van Dongen said. “The annual missions to the capitals of PNWER jurisdictions and the national capitals build important relations and help identify action opportunities on shared priorities as we move toward the annual PNWER summit.”

PNWER is a bipartisan public-private cross-border organization and B.C. has been a member since the organization was founded in 1991. Other member jurisdictions include Alberta, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and the Yukon.