The following statement was issued today by Lloyd Matthews, Minister of Mines and Energy. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise today to inform honourable members that Newfoundland and Labrador's application for admittance into The Energy Council of America has been accepted. This past weekend, I participated in the council's annual Global Energy and Environmental Issues fall conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the province was formally accepted into this organization. Mr. Ed Foran, Vice Chair of Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association and Mr. Bill Wells, President and CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro were also in attendance to share in the province's proud moment.

For the information of honourable members, The Energy Council is a legislative and industry stakeholders organization of ten energy-producing states ranging from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. The member states produce more than 80 per cent of United States' oil and gas and includes leading coal, uranium, hydro and other renewable energy-producing states. The Energy Council is an influential North American organization. The elected legislators and industry representatives of the Council participate in the formation of energy policy at all levels. Venezuela and Alberta are the only other international affiliates. Newfoundland and Labrador is now the third international affiliate.

I am extremely pleased that Newfoundland and Labrador has been accepted into this organization. Membership will provide us with insight into current energy policies and issues of other energy-producing jurisdictions and permit the province to capitalize on opportunities for marketing the province's resources including to our most prospective market - the northeastern United States.

I am also pleased to announce today that next year, Newfoundland and Labrador will host a Consumers and Producers Forum on Energy. The top energy producers and customers from the northeastern United States and members of the Energy Council's Executive Committee will be in attendance. These are the very people to whom we want to showcase our oil, gas and hydro resources. The forum will allow large potential customers in the northeastern United States to become familiar with Newfoundland and Labrador as an area that will be critical to North America's future energy supply. Public and private sector participants from the United States and Canada will discuss relevant topics and build relationships between producers and consumers for the benefit of all. 

Thank you.

2001 12 11                        1:45 p.m.