SASKTOON - Provincial and territorial ministers responsible for energy and mining across Canada concluded the 2021 Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference (EMMC), co-chaired by Saskatchewan, which focused on Canada's competitiveness, economic growth, and low-carbon innovation.
The conference took place in a hybrid format, with some ministers (Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario) attending in person in Saskatoon and others attending virtually.
"Our energy and mining sectors are critical to Canada's economy and account for almost 15 per cent of the national gross domestic product. Energy and mining are a major source of capital investment and generate crucial trade flow and high-quality jobs," Saskatchewan Energy and Resources Minister and EMMC co-chair Bronwyn Eyre said. "As Canada emerges from the pandemic, our vibrant, sustainable natural resource sectors will continue to create tremendous economic and social opportunities."
This year's EMMC focused on building Canadian competitiveness and stimulating investment in priority areas such as energy development and critical minerals, which include helium, lithium, potash, uranium, aluminum, rare earth elements, copper, cobalt, nickel and zinc, among others. Critical minerals are essential to advanced manufacturing and clean technology value chains.
Energy and mines ministers shared regional perspectives on geoscience, innovation, hydrogen, clean energy technology, electrification and positioning the Canadian energy and mining sectors for future growth. This includes positioning Canada's world-class energy and mining sectors to benefit from environmental social governance (ESG) investment trends.
Ministers also focused on areas of collaboration that will help advance collective energy and mining agendas, including through the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan. In addition, ministers discussed how innovative clean energy technologies, including hydrogen, small modular reactors (SMRs), and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) can help support the Canadian economy and bolster economic growth.
Ministers acknowledged the importance of a strong energy sector as critical for Canada's economic recovery from the global pandemic and discussed a number of key energy priorities, including challenges and opportunities around energy transformation in the north, new technologies to drive competitiveness, and clean energy solutions.
A pre-conference session entitled Indigenous Partnerships and the Future of Natural Resources, attended by ministers and National Indigenous Organizations, highlighted case studies of successful partnerships in energy and mining projects across the country.
Members of EMMC look forward to building on successes achieved during the conference and will continue to work together as provincial and territorial ministers to create a thriving, sustainable energy and mining future for Canada.
Newfoundland and Labrador will assume the role of co-chair for EMMC in 2022.
