The Alaska state house of representatives passed a resolution supporting Canadian sovereignty on March 24: now the resolution will be presented to the Alaskan senate.
The resolution, which received bipartisan support in the Alaska state legislature, affirms Canadian sovereignty, but also condemns measures designed to counter U.S. tariffs, such as British Columbia's proposed highway tolls. It also condemns "restrictive trade measures" which would harm Alaskan and Canadian economies.
The senateSA国际影视传媒檚 resource committee heard from Chuck Kopp, the Anchorage Republican state representative who introduced the resolution, as well as Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai.
Kopp told state senators that the resolution wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 partisan or ideological, but rather representative of SA国际影视传媒渆ndearing ties between Alaska and CanadaSA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚t's an unqualified affirmation of our shared history, mutual defence, talking militarily and then community-to-community that have bound our state to Canada over centuries,SA国际影视传媒� said Kopp. Kopp also referred to the movement of Indigenous people over the lands before borders were drawn.
Pillai testified and told senators that tariffs puts the Alaska-Yukon relationship at risk. While Alaskans and Yukoners share common goals, said Pillai, many Canadians are concerned about threats to the Canadian economy and national sovereignty. He reiterated that Canada will never be the 51st American state.
Matt Morrison of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region also testified at the senate committee hearing, urging support for the resolution.
SA国际影视传媒淚t means so much more than just the words,SA国际影视传媒� said Morrison.
Alaska Senator Shelley Hughes cited a March 27 Yukon News article regarding the pause on Shakwak road maintenance funding. Morrison said a lot of funding that has been paused has not been withdrawn.
In April 2024, Pillai announced the territory had secured US$31 million to maintain the Shakwak corridor via the American Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
At that time, the confirmed via press release the funding was approved by the Federal Highway Administration.
However, an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump this year stated that agencies must pause the disbursing of funds appropriated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Yukon government cabinet communications in February 2025 that Shakwak funding is being affected by this pause.
John Rodda, the president of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, also testified in support of the resolution.
Sarah Frampton, the executive director of Arctic Team Alaska, also spoke in support of the resolution. She referenced how Alaska will be sending 355 athletes, coaches and staff to Whitehorse for the Arctic Winter Games next year.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen our athletes arrive in Yukon, I know they will be welcome, not just as competitors, but as friends,SA国际影视传媒� said Frampton.
Mike Coons, an Alaska resident in Wasilla, said there should instead be a resolution of support for U.S. President Donald Trump, citing Canadian counter-measures to U.S. tariffs like Ontarian threats to withhold electricity and British Columbia proposing highway tolls.
Coons said U.S. Democrats were more concerned with blocking Trump than they are concerned with SA国际影视传媒渕aking America and Alaska great again.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淟et this resolution die in committee,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Ian Tremblay, an administrative assistant to the Alaska Legislative Information Office, told the News that the resolution will be heard in the senate resources committee once more before being passed onto the Alaska senate.
There, it will go through at least two readings before state senators vote on the resolution. If passed, the resolution will be transmitted to the governor as a formality before being passed to officials listed at the bottom of the resolution.
Those officials in question include Trump, secretary of state Marco Rubio, defence secretary Pete Hegseth, as well as U.S. Alaskan Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Alaskan Congressmen Nicholas Begich. Gregory Guillot and Blaise F. Frawley of the North American Aerospace Defense Command are also listed.
Canadian politicians listed on the resolution include Prime Minister Mark Carney, foreign affairs minister M茅lanie Joly, export minister Mary Ng, national defence minister Bill Blair. The Canadian consul general in Seattle, Craig Weichel, is also listed.
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
