2013 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference

Canada’s Annual Energy and  Mines Ministers’ Conference-Energy

          At the 2013 Energy and Mines  Ministers’ Conference (EMMC), federal, provincial and territorial ministers discussed  North America’s changing energy landscape and the current challenges and  opportunities for the Canadian energy sector. The following key themes  and priorities were discussed:

Energy Supply
          Governments have a collective opportunity to  enable the sustainable realization of Canada’s enormous resource endowment. By  working in partnership, the Government of Canada together with the provinces  and territories will ensure that our resources are developed and used  responsibly for the benefit of all Canadians.
          At the 2013 EMMC, the Ministers recognized that the North  American energy landscape is changing rapidly. Technological innovation and the  increasing affordability of horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic  fracturing technologies are unlocking vast unconventional shale oil and gas  resources. The Ministers’ discussion on these issues was informed by a report  and accompanying compendium titled Responsible  Shale Development: Enhancing the Knowledge Base on Shale Oil and Gas in Canada. These documents compile and summarize into a single source the major  regulatory, environmental protection, scientific research and other initiatives  that the federal, provincial and territorial governments have undertaken with  respect to shale resource innovation and development. The report will serve as  a resource for all jurisdictions to better understand and benefit from the  significant efforts across Canada. Going forward, priority action areas will  include establishing a knowledge-sharing network focused on key research questions  and technical issues and knowledge sharing between Canada and the United  States.  
          In addition, the energy ministers were provided with the  document, Canada – A Global Leader in  Renewable Energy: Enhancing Collaboration on Renewable Energy Technologies,  which highlights progress in the area of renewable energy and potential  collaborative actions as we move forward. Canada’s reliance on electricity  produced from renewable energy sources, including, hydro, wind, solar, biomass  and marine, is expected to increase further as governments continue to pursue  policies encouraging energy innovation and the deployment and integration of  lower-emitting sources of electricity. Going forward, collaboration across  jurisdictions will be necessary to ensure that Canada maintains its renewable  energy advantage and maximizes the potential for future uptake of novel  technologies, particularly by supporting increased reliability and system  adequacy, ensuring the sustainability of the electricity transmission system, ensuring  appropriate engagement with local and Aboriginal communities, and addressing  the integration of rising levels of variable renewable electricity.

Energy Distribution
          The Ministers discussed  the importance of safe and secure transportation networks to facilitate access  to markets for energy producers, and access to domestic energy resources for  consumers. Efficient and modern energy transportation systems will help Canada  achieve its full potential as a major global energy producer and exporter, while  ensuring that domestic demand is satisfied and citizens and the environment  remain safe. Positive, substantive progress must continue to be made in  improving the security of pipelines and the means of energy transportation  while ensuring appropriate engagement with local and First Nations communities.  The Ministers agreed that federal, provincial and territorial governments could  benefit from a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities that  each jurisdiction faces in maintaining and developing energy transportation  infrastructure. The Ministers agreed to continue working together to ensure  that Canada has the safe and secure energy transportation infrastructure needed  to reach current and future markets.

Energy Use
          Since 2007, federal, provincial and  territorial partners have made tremendous progress toward greater collaboration  and shared best practices with the goal of improving the efficiency of energy  use in all sectors across the country. The impact of these efforts was detailed  in Moving Forward on Energy Efficiency in  Canada: Achieving Results to 2020 and Beyond, endorsed at EMMC 2012. This  year, the Ministers received an update for 2013, entitled Energy Efficiency: Taking a Balanced Approach to Energy. This  report summarizes the actions taken over the last year, including the  implementation of the 2011 building code and the introduction of the ENERGY  STAR Portfolio Manager Benchmarking Program in Canada. The report also  showcases the alignment between Canadian collaborative actions and  recommendations from the International Energy Agency, such as making energy  efficiency affordable and raising the profile and importance of energy  efficiency and conservation.

Energy Innovation
          Investments in energy innovation will help maintain  Canada’s competitiveness, reduce energy costs for consumers and meet our  environmental goals. The Ministers noted the federal government’s investment of  $325 million over eight  years to continue support for the development and demonstration of new, clean  technologies through Sustainable Development Technology Canada. To encourage collaboration  and bring forth perspectives on how Canada can best support energy innovation, regional roundtables will be held with provinces  and territories as well as key stakeholders.

Mandatory Reporting  Standards for Canadian Extractive Companies
          Canada  is recognized as a world leader in promoting transparency and accountability in  the extractive sector both at home and abroad. Prime Minister Harper announced  at this year’s G8 summit that Canada will be establishing new mandatory  reporting standards for domestic extractive companies.
          It is  anticipated that the regime will enhance transparency and accountability with  regard to material payments such as taxes, licence fees and other receipts to  all levels of government domestically and internationally.
          The  federal government has begun close consultations with the extractive industry  along with provincial and territorial counterparts, Aboriginal groups and  non-governmental organizations on how to establish the most effective regime.

- 30 -

Media may contact:
Chris McCluskey
Director of Communications
Office of Canada’s Minister of Natural  Resources  
Chris.McCluskey@nrcan.gc.ca
613-992-4447

or

Media  Relations
Natural  Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447

or

Alayna Ward
Manager, Public Affairs and  Communications
Industry, Tourism and  Investment
Government of the Northwest  Territories
867-445-7477

The general  public may contact:

Mon.–Fri.,  8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. EDT
Telephone:  613-995-0947
TTY:  613-996-4397
(teletype  for the hearing-impaired)
E-mail:

Follow us on Twitter:  @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

The reports mentioned above are available at www.scics.gc.ca.