HALIFAX,
NS, July 30, 2024 /CNW/ - The Government of
Canada and the Province of
Nova Scotia are working together
to build a low-carbon economy that drives clean growth and creates
good, sustainable jobs throughout the province and across the
country.
The Canada-Nova Scotia Regional Energy and Resource Table (NS
Regional Table) is a key vehicle for driving economic prosperity
now and into the future. Launched in October
2022, the NS Regional Table is a partnership between the
federal and provincial governments, in collaboration with Mi'kmaw
partners — and with input from key interested parties — to identify
and accelerate shared economic priorities for a low-carbon future
in the province's energy and resource sectors.
Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources, and the Honourable Tory Rushton, Nova Scotia's Minister of Natural Resources
and Renewables, released The Nova Scotia Regional Energy
and Resource Table Framework for Collaboration on the Path to Net
Zero (Collaboration Framework).
The Collaboration Framework identifies six areas of economic
opportunity to pursue: hydrogen, marine renewables, clean
electricity, critical minerals, the forest bioeconomy and carbon
management. In all of these areas, companies across the province
are already moving to seize the economic opportunities they
present, and the federal and provincial governments will be there
to support them.
Over the past few years alone, Nova
Scotia has seen the benefits of increased economic activity
in these priority areas, which both the provincial and federal
governments will continue to build on going forward. Both
governments committed to the Joint Policy Statement on
Developing and Transmitting Clean, Reliable and Affordable Power in
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, which was signed in
October 2023 and commits them to
working actively together to ensure progress toward electricity
systems that will be affordable, reliable and clean and will meet
the requirements of the forthcoming Clean Electricity Regulation.
In line with this commitment, the federal government today
announced an additional $192 million
for clean energy projects and associated storage systems. Other
recent investments and progress toward these goals include 660
electric vehicle charging stations for Wolfville and Halifax, a $125-million investment in EverWind in
Port Hawkesbury, $10 million earlier this month for electric grid
upgrades in Antigonish and more.
In the hydrogen space, too, recent progress includes the passage of
Bill C-49, to help develop offshore renewable energy, and advances
in the Canada–Germany hydrogen alliance.
Both Canada and the Province of
Nova Scotia are working to
establish and maintain constructive, co-operative relationships
based on mutual respect that lead to improved opportunities for
Indigenous Peoples. This includes an acknowledgment that the
integration of Indigenous perspectives is critical to realizing a
low-carbon economy that is grounded in respect, recognition and
reconciliation. In this regard, the two governments collaborated
closely on the development of this Framework with Kwilmu'kw
Maw-klusuaqn, which represents 11 Mi'kmaw communities under
the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs.
Through these collaborative efforts, the two levels of
government, Indigenous partners and key interested parties can
position Nova Scotia to be a
global energy, mining and technology supplier of choice in a
net-zero world while creating good jobs and lasting prosperity
across the province.
Quotes
"The Regional Energy and Resource Tables are a novel initiative
that allow us to seize the enormous economic opportunities
associated with building a low-carbon economy, and in other places
in Canada they are already
delivering results. Launching this Collaboration Framework under
the Regional Tables initiative with the Government of Nova Scotia, and with early input from
Indigenous partners, is crucial to working together on a
coordinated approach to the clean economy. I look forward to
deepening collaboration with Indigenous partners and labour and
industry groups in the province."
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Canada's Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources
"Nova Scotia is a leader in
fighting climate change, with legislated goals to get off coal and
reach 80-percent renewables by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050.
The federal government is an important partner, and we're pleased
to have this collaborative framework in place to guide our work
together. It focuses on the things that are most important for
Nova Scotia to secure a clean,
low-carbon future for our children and grandchildren."
Tory Rushton
Nova Scotia's Minister of Natural
Resources and Renewables
"Our government is proud to work with Nova Scotia in identifying the range of
economic opportunities that are linked to a clean energy transition
and a net-zero future. The joint Regional Energy and Resource
Tables encourage the advancement of clean technologies and align
well with the Canada Infrastructure Bank's recent partnership with
13 Mi'kmaw communities, which saw a federal investment of
$138.2 million toward clean energy
storage. This framework will help enable more partnerships with the
Mi'kmaq Nation while creating economic opportunities and a more
sustainable future."
The Honourable Sean Fraser
Canada's Minister of Housing,
Infrastructure and Communities
"In the fight against climate change, it only makes sense to
play to our strengths. With renewable energy sources like strong
offshore winds and high tides, Nova
Scotia has an important part to play in building a net-zero
economy and a sustainable future for our region — all while
creating good, well-paying jobs."
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings
Canada's Minister of Rural
Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency
Quick Facts
- The Regional Energy and Resource Tables (Regional Tables) are
joint partnerships between the federal government and individual
provincial and territorial governments in collaboration with
Indigenous partners – and with input from key stakeholders – to
identify and accelerate shared economic priorities for a low-carbon
future in the energy and resource sectors.
- Regional Tables are underway in 10 provinces and territories:
British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and the four Atlantic provinces
(New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince
Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador) as well as the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.
- An alternate collaboration has been established with
Alberta, an Alberta–Canada Deputy
Minister–level Working Group. Discussions are underway with
Quebec.
- At the federal level, the Regional Tables are an initiative led
by Natural Resources Canada involving multiple federal
institutions, including Innovation, Science, and Economic
Development Canada, the Regional Development Agencies and the
Canada Infrastructure Bank.
- The Government of Canada is
actively investing in territories and provinces, including through
the $35-billion Canada Infrastructure
Bank, the $1.5-billion Critical
Minerals Infrastructure Fund, the $4.5-billion Smart Renewables and Electrification
Pathways Program and the Strategic Innovation Fund's Net Zero
Accelerator initiative.
- On July 18, 2023, federal
ministers and Atlantic premiers agreed to renew the Atlantic Growth
Strategy to harness the unique advantages and opportunities of the
region through renewed priorities and new targeted pathways to
foster prosperity for all Atlantic Canadians.
- In provinces like British
Columbia, the Regional Tables are already delivering results
when it comes to seizing the economic opportunities of the clean
economy. For example, just weeks ago, the federal government, the
provincial government and First Nations governments announced
support for a road project in northwest B.C. that will help unlock
mining opportunities for critical minerals in the region.
Related Information
- Regional Energy and Resource Tables – Nova Scotia
- Regional Energy and Resource Tables
- Regional Energy and Resource Tables – Areas of opportunity
- Regional Energy and Resource Tables – Progress
- Regional Tables Launched to Collaboratively Drive Economic
Opportunities in a Prosperous Net-Zero Future
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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada