Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

Energy To Take Centre Stage At Meeting Of Provincial And Territorial Leaders

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Jul, 2015 12:45 PM
    ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — It's more important to get a national energy strategy right than to get it done quickly, Newfoundland and Labrador's premier said as national leaders try to work out regional differences.
     
    Talks towards a Canadian Energy Strategy are continuing but a draft document is still in flux, Paul Davis said at Thursday's meeting of the Council of the Federation in St. John's, N.L.
     
    Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall offered a vocal defence of the oil and gas sectors as he arrived for the meeting of provincial and territorial leaders. He said he's concerned that energy resources are increasingly viewed as a liability in some parts of the country.
     
    "This energy strategy mentions oil, but it's almost in passing," he said of an early draft of a document premiers had said they would hammer out before this summer's meeting.
     
    "It's almost like we've become embarrassed that we have this energy asset and we ought not to be because on the strength of developing that asset, we have funded innumerable social programs. We have created strong economies."
     
    Wall said there's growing frustration in the West, where the energy industry creates jobs and helps fund equalization transfers from the federal government to less-wealthy provinces.
     
    Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, whose NDP government has said it will strike a new course on environmental protection, stressed the need for balance.
     
    "We are an energy province and my job is to make sure that we can grow prosperity in Alberta as well as across the country, and so we're going to continue to do that," she told reporters Wednesday. "But there's no question that our new government does see that there's a close tie between environmental record, a good strong integrity there, in order to establish more access to markets."
     
    All premiers are free to express their opinions, Davis said when asked if Wall's outspokenness was stalling progress.
     
    Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil called Wall a "great partner" and said it's important for all provinces to take a national view on how to best move resources across Canada and to international buyers.
     
    New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant said he's optimistic the premiers can agree on a national plan that will set guidelines for new projects, such as the proposed Energy East pipeline while also protecting the environment.
     
    "Energy's an important part of our Canadian economy," he said. "It's an important part of the New Brunswick economy and we need it to be helping us, we need it to be growing if we're going to create jobs and grow the economy from coast to coast to coast."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Victoria, Montreal And Gatineau, Que., Top Cities For Women To Live In Canada

    Victoria, Montreal And Gatineau, Que., Top Cities For Women To Live In Canada
    TORONTO — A new study says life is better for women who live in cities such as Victoria, Gatineau, Que., and Montreal compared to Edmonton, Calgary and Ontario's Waterloo Region.

    Victoria, Montreal And Gatineau, Que., Top Cities For Women To Live In Canada

    B.C. Crash Investigators Successful In International Search For Irish Witnesses

    B.C. Crash Investigators Successful In International Search For Irish Witnesses
    RCMP in British Columbia are praising the power of social media for helping them find three Irish tourists who may have important information about a deadly crash.

    B.C. Crash Investigators Successful In International Search For Irish Witnesses

    Indian American Driving With Suspended License Accused Of Killing 3 People Faces 50 Years In Prison

    Indian American Driving With Suspended License Accused Of Killing 3 People Faces 50 Years In Prison
    An Indian American, accused of driving with suspended license and allegedly killing three people in a New Jersey road accident, faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted on the second degree multiple count charges

    Indian American Driving With Suspended License Accused Of Killing 3 People Faces 50 Years In Prison

    Rona Ambrose Urges Provinces, Territories To Allow Feds Into Pharmaceutical Alliance

    In a note sent to provincial and territorial health ministers, Ambrose says the federal government has "repeatedly expressed interest" in participating in the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance.

    Rona Ambrose Urges Provinces, Territories To Allow Feds Into Pharmaceutical Alliance

    Premiers Commit To Commission Recommendations After Meeting With Native Leaders

    Paul Davis spoke at a closing news conference after meeting with the leaders of national aboriginal organizations in Happy Valley-Goose Bay Wednesday.

    Premiers Commit To Commission Recommendations After Meeting With Native Leaders

    Ducks Rescued After Oil Spills Into Toronto Creek, Clean Up Underway

    Ducks Rescued After Oil Spills Into Toronto Creek, Clean Up Underway
    The Toronto Wildlife Centre said it had rescued 31 ducks — with at least a dozen more en route — that were slicked with oil by late Tuesday afternoon.

    Ducks Rescued After Oil Spills Into Toronto Creek, Clean Up Underway