TORONTO, May 27, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, on behalf of the Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today launched the 2015 Canadian Energy Summit where, in her keynote remarks, she reinforced Canada's role as a secure, reliable and responsible producer and supplier of energy to the world.
During her address, Minister Rempel emphasized the important role energy plays in Canada, with a focus on the enormous potential of clean energy as a driver of both economic prosperity and environmental protection. Canada's growing clean technology industry is improving energy efficiency and renewable resources, while also fostering innovation and creating high-quality jobs within the energy sector.
Minister Rempel also discussed Canada's contribution to North American and global energy security through the responsible development of our vast oil and gas reserves and our innovation and efficiency in the energy sector.
Minister Rempel reinforced this commitment as a key component of the Government's plan for Responsible Resource Development, which offers a comprehensive approach to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity while strengthening environmental protection.
Quick Facts — Clean Energy
- In 2013, the energy sector contributed $175 billion or 9.9 percent of Canada's total GDP. It directly employed almost 290,000 Canadians and indirectly employed almost 615,000 people.
- Canada benefits from one of the cleanest electricity mixes in the world, with the largest percentage of renewable electricity in the G7 and 79 percent generated from non-emitting sources.
- Government of Canada funding programs for energy technology innovation, such as the ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative and the Clean Energy Fund, are supporting research, development and demonstration projects that help Canada to produce and use energy in cleaner and more efficient ways.
- Since 2006, the Government of Canada has invested over $1.1 billion in energy technology innovation, leveraging over $4.4 billion from over 1,000 partners.
- In Budget 2013, the Government of Canada provided an additional $325 million over eight years to Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to continue supporting the development and demonstration of new, clean technologies that create efficiencies for businesses and contribute to sustainable economic development.
Quick Facts — Energy Security
- Canada is the fifth-largest natural gas producer in the world, with marketable resources of up to 44 trillion cubic metres. Canada has the third-largest reserves of crude oil in the world, including 167 billion barrels in Canada's oil sands alone, and is the fifth-largest producer.
- Between 2005 and 2014, Canadian crude exports increased by 81 percent, and Canada has begun supplying oil to eight new markets including Italy, the United Kingdom, Norway, France, Spain and Ireland.
- Canada's energy exports to Italy increased by 1,400 percent in 2014, reaching $1.6 billion, with Canadian crude growing to represent 3.4 percent of Italy's total oil imports in 2014.
Quotes
"Canada is a secure, reliable and responsible producer and supplier of energy to the world, and our government remains committed to the responsible development of our resources. Through our support for energy efficiency, infrastructure and innovation, we are demonstrating this commitment while creating jobs and securing economic growth for years to come."
Michelle Rempel
Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification
The general public may contact:
Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. EDT
Telephone: 613-995-0947
TTY: 613-996-4397
(teletype for the hearing-impaired)
E-mail: [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media
SOURCE Natural Resources Canada
Alexandra Lemieux, Press Secretary, Office of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, 613-996-2007; Media Relations, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 613-992-4447
Share this article