Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference Federal-Provincial-Territorial Council of Energy (CEM) Ministers’ Meeting

WHISTLER, B.C. — New pledges to increase   intergovernmental cooperation in advancing regulatory efficiency, collaborate on   the development of new energy technologies and improve energy efficiency   highlighted the annual meeting of Canada’s Council of Energy Ministers   today.

The annual meeting was co-chaired by the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of   Natural Resources, and the Honourable Richard Neufeld, British Columbia Minister   of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

Building on priorities identified at the 2006 energy ministers’ meeting in   Whitehorse, the ministers agreed to collaborate on new energy technology   partnerships in the priority areas such as cleaner fossil fuels, advanced energy   end-use, alternative and renewable energy sources, bioenergy, and hydrogen   production, storage and conversion. This will include collaboration with   industry and academia.

“Everyone has a part in this, but it’s up to us as governments to show   leadership – and that’s what we’re doing,” said Minister Lunn. “We are working   collaboratively to foster the next generation of clean technologies to break   through to emissions-free energy production and energy use,” said Minister Lunn.

The energy ministers, in a joint session with mines ministers on September   24, were very pleased to note that all jurisdictions are making significant   steps towards streamlining regulatory approval processes and agreed to continue   to work collaboratively with their colleagues. These efforts will help ensure   that Canada continues to be competitive in our resource industries while   maintaining world-class standards for protection of the environment, workers,   and the public.

“Both the federal and provincial governments take energy issues very   seriously,” said Minister Neufeld. “It’s only during these kinds of   collaborative meetings that we can share our best practices and work together to   find solutions.”

After discussing energy efficiency issues with representatives of government,   academia, private sector and energy consumer organizations, ministers agreed to   work to identify opportunities for collaborative energy-efficiency actions that   could lead to a significant reduction in the growth of energy demand in Canada.   Ministers agreed that energy efficiency and conservation have the potential to   reduce energy demand in Canada by an amount equal to almost 25% of today’s   energy use by 2030, noting that each jurisdiction is acting on energy efficiency   and conservation to meet their own priorities and needs. This builds on the   recent announcement that all governments are working collaboratively to enhance   the model national energy code for buildings by 25 percent by 2012.

Ministers also endorsed the document Moving Forward on Energy   Efficiency which outlines that significant improvements in energy   efficiency and conservation are fundamental to assuring Canadians have secure,   reliable and competitively priced supply of energy for the long term. The   ministers also stressed that efficiency and conservation are key to gaining the   maximum economic benefit from Canada’s energy resources while minimizing the   environmental impacts of energy use.

Moving Forward on Energy Efficiency is designed to engage all   Canadians — governments, the private sector and individuals — in a pan-Canadian   effort to reduce energy consumption in homes and buildings, industry and on-road   transportation. This document recognizes that different governments will want to   pursue different priorities at different times, according to their unique   situations.

It offers a menu of tools from which individual governments can choose to   enhance energy efficiency and conservation. It also includes numerous options   for action on energy efficiency by sectors outside governments, including   professional and industry associations, retailers, financial institutions and   others, ranging from energy-related training for professionals such as engineers   and architects to the expansion of green financial instruments.

“The biggest untapped source of energy we have in this country is the energy   we waste. Our work today brings cooperation among the federal, provincial and   territorial governments to new level,” said Minister Lunn. “That commitment,   along with the input we’ve had from non-governmental organizations, industry,   academics and Canadians at large, says we are ready to achieve real results for   our environment, our economy and our energy security.”

“Canadians and their governments are already emphasizing energy efficiency,   and we’re making real progress,” said Minister Neufeld. “We are adopting a   vision of how we can work together to turn real progress into spectacular   progress.”

Moving Forward on Energy Efficiency is available online at www.nrcan.gc.ca or www.gov.bc.ca/empr

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Media may contact:

                                               

Alyson Robb            Office of the Minister            Natural Resources   Canada            Ottawa            613-996-2007

Jake Jacobs            Public Affairs Officer            British Columbia   Ministry of Energy,            Mines and Petroleum Resources            250-952-0629            Cell:   250-213-6934