House Resources Committee adopts resolution affirming Alaska'9s relationship with Canada

House Joint Resolution 11, a nonbinding measure recognizing the historic, cultural and economic ties between Alaska and Canada, was adopted by the Alaska House Resources Committee on March 14, 2025. The committee adopted a committee substitute (work order 34-LS0532\h) and approved the resolution to advance it from committee.

The resolution affirms Alaska's long-standing ties with Canada, highlights shared Indigenous history and cross-border trade, and urges opposition to restrictive trade measures that would harm the integrated economies of Alaska and Canada. Representative Chuck Kopp, sponsor of the resolution, framed the measure as an "unqualified affirmation of the strong bonds of friendship, shared history, mutual defense, and support" with Canada and said, "Imagine Alaska without Canada." Julia O'Connor, staff to Representative Kopp, told the committee the substitute added language emphasizing Canada's sovereignty and updated cross-border Indigenous recognition and references for clarity.

The committee heard extended public testimony from Alaskans and Canadian officials. Orion Hansen, a member of the Skagway Assembly and a second-generation home builder, described Skagway's dependence on Canadian supply routes and tourism, saying a 25% tariff on Canadian goods "will harm the people of Alaska, and will have an acute negative impact on the town of Skagway and our port to Canada." Premier Ranj Pillai of Yukon (recorded in testimony as joining from Whitehorse) described shared infrastructure, emergency response and cultural ties, and urged lawmakers to send "a strong message to Washington by passing the joint resolution and standing up for the Alaskan jobs, Alaskan workers, and Alaskan businesses that depend on trade with Canada." Other witnesses included mayors of Dawson City and Whitehorse, the president of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee and Alaska's honorary consul for Canada, all endorsing the resolution.

Committee members asked about specific trade measures referenced in testimony, including tariffs and impacts on lumber, oil and seafood processing. Representative Kopp and multiple witnesses warned that tariffs under consideration at the federal level could raise costs for fuel, construction and food in Alaska and disrupt integrated North American supply chains. In response to questions about border security and illicit drugs, Kopp cited U.S. Border Patrol data and said "less than 1% of all fentanyl comes across the Canadian border," and that illegal crossings on the northern border are "minuscule compared to the southern border." Representative Colom expressed personal disagreement with some actions of Canadian leadership but supported distinguishing the government from the people and communities who share economic ties with Alaska.

After public testimony and discussion the committee adopted the committee substitute and subsequently moved the substitute from committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note.

The resolution is nonbinding and expresses the legislature's support for maintaining strong Alaska'Canada relations; it does not create new statutory obligations or change state law. Committee action sends the measure forward for further consideration by the full House.

Votes at a glance: The committee adopted the committee substitute and passed HJR 11 from committee. The transcript records the motions to adopt the substitute and to report the substitute from committee; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.