Executive Council
Natural Resources
July 17, 2015

Premiers United on National Energy Strategy

Premier Applauds Agreement on Canadian Energy Strategy

A significant milestone was achieved today as the Premiers of Canada agreed to the terms of a Canadian energy strategy. The announcement was made by the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and Chair of the Council of the Federation, during the Council of the Federation meeting being held in St. John’s.

“This strategy is the culmination of over three years of discussions between provincial and territorial leaders, and is an important step for Canada in addressing a number of energy issues, including energy security, climate change and the transportation and transmission of energy across provincial and territorial borders. I thank my colleagues from across Canada for their dedication to the development of this important initiative.”
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

During its development, the Provincial Government worked to ensure that the strategy supported provincial priorities. Most significantly, the Provincial Government focused on the inclusion of goals, actions and initiatives that addressed the transportation and transmission of energy across provincial, territorial and international borders.

In addition, the Provincial Government ensured that the strategy acknowledged the important role that the development of the province’s renewable and non-renewable resources plays in the economy and in the national energy security.

Other priorities for the province included enhancing the role of renewable energy sources and technologies, innovation and research and development to address energy needs and climate change goals; ensuring the health and safety of workers; and, meeting energy-sector human resource needs.

Earlier this week, Premiers and government officials got a first-hand look at the province’s extensive energy resource as they toured the Muskrat Falls site in Labrador. When the Muskrat Falls Project is complete, 98 per cent of Newfoundland and Labrador’s electricity will come from renewable resources. Clean hydropower from Muskrat Falls will also supply Nova Scotia customers and assist them reducing their reliance on coal-fired generation.

The Provincial Government and Nalcor will then turn to the development of Gull Island, the best undeveloped hydroelectric source in North America. Together, Muskrat Falls and Gull Island have a combined capacity of more than 3,000 megawatts, will be able to provide 16.7 terawatt hours of electricity a year and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 3.2 million vehicles off the road annually.

“I look forward to working with my provincial and territorial colleagues over the next year as we implement the four key priority initiatives outlined by the Premiers. Committees will be created under the leadership of provincial and territorial Ministers of Energy on each of the four priorities and we will identity further initiatives to meet the shared goals within the strategy.”
- The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources.

The Canadian Energy Strategy is available at: www.canadaspremiers.ca/phocadownload/publications/canadian_energy_strategy_eng_fnl.pdf

QUICK FACTS

• The Premiers of Canada agreed to the terms of a Canadian energy strategy. The announcement was made by the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and Chair of the Council of the Federation, during the Council of the Federation meeting being held in St. John’s.
• At the 2012 summer Council of the Federation meeting, Premiers agreed to develop a renewed Canadian energy strategy, building on the work undertaken since the 2007 Council of the Federation Energy Strategy, A Shared Vision for Energy in Canada.
• The Provincial Government agreed to co-lead this strategy, along with the Governments of Alberta and Manitoba. The Government of New Brunswick joined this lead group in 2015.
• The vision and principles of the strategy are centred around collaboration and transparency, climate change, social and environmental responsibility and energy security and supply. These also reflect an increased focus on the linkages between energy and environmental and climate change issues.
• The strategy contains goals and actions to encourage consumers to make energy efficient choices, and sectors to accelerate the adoption of products and technologies that support energy efficiency and conservation.
• For full details of the new Canadian Energy Strategy visit: www.canadaspremiers.ca/phocadownload/publications/canadian_energy_strategy_eng_fnl.pdf .

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Media contacts:

Heather MacLean Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3581 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca	Donna Ivey Special Assistant, Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3551 donnaivey@gov.nl.ca
Diana Quinton Director of Communications Department of Natural Resources 709-729-5282 dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca

2015 07 17                              3:05 p.m.