Natural Resources
August 16, 2017

Minister Coady Highlights Provincial Interests at Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference

The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, encouraged regulatory changes, further investment, and global competitiveness for Newfoundland and Labrador at the Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference in New Brunswick which was held August 14-15.

Minister Coady led the call to ensure competitiveness for extractive industries and advocated for changes to the environmental assessment process to ensure the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board is recognized as the Responsible Authority consistent with the intent of the Atlantic Accord.

In addition, Minister Coady spoke about investing in junior mining companies and public geoscience, and undertaking energy supply initiatives in northern and rural communities. Bilateral meetings were also held with provincial colleagues.

The 2017 Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference was co-hosted by the Government of New Brunswick and the Government of Canada. During the conference, ministers agreed to a number of initiatives including:

  • Collaborating to modernize the federal environmental and regulatory review process;
  • Exploring opportunities to enhance geoscience programs across jurisdictions and expand the availability of public geoscience data;
  • Improving energy, security and sustainability, with particular emphasis on northern and remote communities;
  • Continuing, when appropriate, regional electricity cooperation initiatives and North American renewable energy integration; and
  • Working together to maximize Canada’s potential in global export markets.

Quotes
“At the Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference this week, I appreciated the opportunity to meet with my federal, provincial and territorial colleagues to discuss significant initiatives in energy and mining, such as proposed changes to the Environmental Assessment Processes currently established under CEAA 2012. I made it clear that we are very concerned about potential impacts that proposed changes will have on development of natural resource projects within Newfoundland and Labrador. At our meetings this week, I also advocated for investigating and identifying ways for junior mining companies to access sufficient capital to carry out exploration activities and that investment in public geoscience be continued. With regard to energy, I emphasized the province’s commitment to pursuing opportunities to develop renewable energy solutions to offset diesel in our off-grid communities which serve approximately 3,400 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Overall, I was very pleased that we agreed to work together on these initiatives and to maximize Canada’s potential in global markets.”
Honourable Siobhan Coady
Minister of Natural Resources

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Learn more
Energy and mining items endorsed by ministers at Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference 2017 - www.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/11102 External Link Icon

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Media contact
Diana Quinton
Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 631-8155
dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca

 

2017 08 16                                                    3:45 p.m.