Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ranj Pillai attended the 2018 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference in Iqaluit, Nunavut, from August 12 to 14.
Ministers were provided with an overview of both the challenges facing Canada’s competitiveness in the energy and mining sectors and the potential solutions being considered. The Ministers agreed to address these challenges by eliminating barriers to investment, promoting market diversification and improving the efficiency and timeliness of regulatory processes.
The Ministers recognize that federal, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous Peoples and communities need to work together in partnership to ensure that northern communities have clean, reliable, affordable and secure energy. Relatedly, there is a need for critical infrastructure to develop the North’s natural resources and its long-term economic future.
Minister Pillai reinforced Yukon government’s position that there must be appropriate funding and support for engagement with Yukon’s First Nations and the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board.
Meeting with my federal, provincial and territorial colleagues is key to developing initiatives that enhance and promote energy and mining projects in Yukon and across Canada. It’s important that the Federal government continue to work with northern jurisdictions to establish programs for energy and infrastructure development that will create sustainable economic opportunities.
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ranj Pillai
The Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference is an annual gathering of federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for energy and mining portfolios.
Connecting communities to resources builds on Canada’s competitive advantage and environmental sustainability, which will remain a focus of Canada’s energy and mines Ministers as they work toward the 2019 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference in British Columbia.
Canada’s natural resources sector accounts for 17 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product, 47 per cent of Canada’s merchandise exports and provided more than 1.8 million jobs in 2017.
Sunny Patch
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7478
sunny.patch@gov.yk.ca
Jesse Devost
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-5307
jesse.devost@gov.yk.ca