Minister Carr Reiterates Support for Major Natural Resource Projects in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, Nov. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada is open for business and our government is taking real action to protect the environment so good projects will create middle-class jobs and grow our economy for decades to come.

With the transition to a cleaner future underway, the world is looking to Canada, both as a reliable and sustainable supplier of the traditional energy it still needs and as an innovator in the newer forms of energy it must adopt.

Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jim Carr, was in Vancouver today, where he reaffirmed the Government's support for last year's major pipeline decisions and highlighted its three guiding pillars with respect to the projects: safety and environmental protection, job creation and partnering with Indigenous peoples to monitor construction and operations.

Speaking at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade's 2017 Energy Forum, Minister Carr said Canadians understand the transition to a cleaner energy future is well underway ? something they made clear during Generation Energy, the largest public engagement on energy in Canadian history. The Minister also noted that support for pipeline projects is not at odds with this vision for a low-carbon future.

The Minister also took the opportunity to highlight the crucial role British Columbia plays in Canada's transition to a low-carbon economy, leading the way on environmental issues, recognizing the importance of protecting our oceans and the important role Indigenous people must play in the development of our natural resources.

While in Vancouver, Minister Carr also met with Indigenous leaders and participated in a roundtable with members of the natural resources business community.

Quote

"As we prepare for a cleaner energy future, we must also deal with the present, by providing the energy Canadians can count on when they turn on a light or fill up their cars. That means continuing to support our traditional resource industries even as we develop alternatives, including solar, wind and tidal. Canadians have told us they want us to be a leader in the transition to a low-carbon economy and they want an energy system that provides jobs and opportunities without harming the environment."

Jim Carr
Minister of Natural Resources

QUICK FACTS:

• The TMX project is subject to rigorous regulatory review and a robust safety regime under the Pipeline Safety Act, including measures that hold companies to account.
• The Government has put in place the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan that improves marine safety and responsible shipping, protects Canada's marine environment, and offers new possibilities for Indigenous and coastal communities.
• Engagement with Indigenous communities will continue throughout the TMX project, most notably through the newly co-developed Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee. This committee has a unique advisory role over the life of TMX, enabling Indigenous peoples to bring their unique traditional knowledge and values to the entire life cycle of a major infrastructure project for the first time in Canadian history.
• The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF) is Canada's plan ? developed with the provinces and territories and in consultation with Indigenous peoples ? to meet our emissions reduction targets, grow the economy, and build resilience to a changing climate.

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada