Energy Ministers from across Canada
concluded two days of discussions on September 1 in St.
John�s at their annual conference hosted by the
Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural
Resources for Newfoundland and Labrador. The ministers
discussed global economic developments, their impacts on
the energy sector and how to best position the country
and industry to capitalize on a sustainable economic
recovery.
"Our government is committed to
generating and increasing the supply of clean and
renewable energy in Canada, not only to reduce the
country�s total greenhouse gas emissions, but also to
increase the country�s energy security and prosperity,"
said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada�s Minister of
Natural Resources. "New and innovative technologies and
processes will help to make our energy and mining
sectors the cleanest and most efficient in the world �
and allow Canada to take advantage of the emerging
market for these green technologies."
The ministers discussed the important
energy policy challenges and opportunities that Canada,
the provinces and territories face. They stressed the
importance of working together to advance cleaner energy
through such efforts as improving energy efficiency,
encouraging clean electricity and fostering cleaner
fossil fuels and alternatives. Challenges facing the
development of northern pipelines and electricity
transmission were also discussed.
The ministers also received
presentations on emerging technologies and innovation
for energy developments.
"It�s important that we share
information on the research and development being
undertaken in our respective areas and any technological
advances that will benefit all Canadians," said Minister
Dunderdale. "We received presentations on large-scale
hydro development, a leading-edge wind-hydrogen-diesel
pilot project for isolated diesel communities, and also
important updates on groundbreaking work in the areas of
bioenergy, renewable energy innovation and sustainable
energy development. These substantive efforts in
research and development will make it possible to make
clean and reliable energy available to all Canadians."
The ministers endorsed new tools and
initiatives to help Canadians further improve energy
efficiency. Through this type of collaboration,
governments will move forward important best practices
for energy efficiency that will result in benefits for
both the environment and the economy. These include a
guide for the trucking industry to improve energy
savings through aerodynamic devices; a manual and tool
to help industry track and manage its energy use; tools
for building recommissioning and the development of an
energy benchmarking database for buildings; and,
finally, a roadmap for considering energy supply and use
at the community level.
Discussions built upon the August 31,
2009, joint session of energy and mines ministers, where
they addressed key issues facing both sectors. The
ministers highlighted the regulatory review process and
agreed to drive action to improve Canada�s regulatory
system to support the competitiveness and sustained
growth of energy and mining sectors. Ministers expressed
strong support for a one-project/one-assessment approach
for the environmental assessment process. They tasked
senior officials to work with their counterparts
responsible for environmental assessment and related
regulatory approvals on fundamentally improving
performance, and report back at EMMC 2010.
Quebec�s Associate Minister of Natural
Resources and Wildlife, the Honourable Serge Simard,
invited ministers to convene in September 2010 in Quebec
City for the 2010 Energy and Mines Ministers�
Conference. The World Energy Congress will also be held
in September 2010 in Montreal, Quebec.
The following media backgrounder is
available at
www.nrcan.gc.ca/media: Five New Energy Efficiency
Tools and Initiatives
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