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Greg Rickford, Ontario Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, Bronwyn Eyre, Saskatchewan Minister of Energy and Resources, and Sonya Savage, Alberta Minister of Energy, released the following joint statement following the 2019 Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference with was held in Cranbrook July 15^th to 17th

"We wish to thank the Government of British Columbia for hosting this year's Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference (2019 EMMC). We were proud to represent the people of our provinces and appreciated the opportunity to discuss shared priorities with our colleagues from across the country.”

In recent years, the economic challenges facing our energy and mineral sectors have reached a critical point. We were profoundly disappointed with the 2019 EMMC discussions and communiqué as they did not adequately address our provinces' challenges and concerns.

Specifically, they specified, there was only superficial discussion about competitiveness, market access, the devastating economic effects of the Impact Assessment Act (Bill C-69) and Oil Tanker Moratorium Act (Bill C-48), the continued federal encroachment into provincial jurisdiction on natural resources and no real solution to carbon emissions beyond taxing hardworking families and businesses. As such, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta were not signatories.

Ontario and Saskatchewan voiced similar concerns when the federal government released its Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan (CMMP) earlier this year. The CMMP's failure to specifically address economic and competitiveness challenges jeopardizes Canada's position as a leading nation in mineral development.

The three stated, “Our provinces are demonstrating leadership, not only in environmental protection, but also in labour standards and technological innovation. Since the world is consuming more energy and mineral resources everyday, Canada, with its world-class industry standards, should be at the forefront of that supply.

We continue to stand united against federal policies such as Bill C-69 and the federal carbon tax. We cannot support policies that force Canadians to pay more to heat their homes and fuel up their cars, while putting Canadian jobs and businesses at risk.”

For its part, Alberta indicted that in recent years, the economic challenges facing Canada’s energy and mineral sectors have reached a critical point, and stated the three provinces were profoundly disappointed with discussions as they did not adequately address the challenges and concerns raised by each province over the past several months.

Superficial discussion about competitiveness, market access, the devastating economic effects of the Impact Assessment Act (Bill C-69) and Oil Tanker Moratorium Act (Bill C-48), the continued federal encroachment into provincial jurisdiction on natural resources and no real solution to carbon emissions beyond taxing hard-working families and businesses led to Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan declining to support the federal government’s communiqué.

“In representing Alberta at the Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference, I was hoping to have substantive dialogue on the challenges facing Alberta’s oil and gas industry”, commented Sonya Savage, Alberta’s Energy Minister.

Continuing, she made it clear that, “The federal government did not want any meaningful conversation about its encroachment on provincial jurisdiction of natural resources, or the devastating impacts bills C-69 and C-48 will have on competitiveness and market access for provinces across the country”

“Our government will continue to fight for the economic interests of Alberta, which is why I could not support the federal government’s communiqué”, detailed Savage.

As for the BC Government of NDP Premier John Horgan ... and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Michelle Mungall? 

Unless I have missed it, they didn’t have a word to say!

My search for “2019 Energy and Mines Minister’s Conference”, in BC Government News, led to the following ... 

--- NO RESULTS FOUND ---

It seems that at least Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario residents can be assured that their provincial governments ARE IN THE FIGHT when it comes to protecting the financial resources coming from energy and resources – and fighting Ottawa in its continued incursions into provinces affairs in these matters.

It also seems that the following comment from Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, went over like a lead balloon:

“Canada’s natural advantage positions us to attract investments, develop new products sustainably and grow our global exports, while protecting our environment, fighting climate change and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The opportunity is now, and we are taking bold action to deliver for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”

The response from the Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta Ministers held nothing back as they stated:

“We will continue to reject short-sighted policies that seek to undo the "pro-energy" progress we have made in our provinces” came the comments of Eyre, Savage, and Rickford.

“Our provinces are economically inter-related and rely on trade in oil and gas, uranium, minerals and other goods and services to create economic growth and jobs that hardworking families depend on to make ends meet. 

We will continue to work with provincial partners to eliminate red tape and outdated regulations that hinder internal trade. Now is the time to send a clear message to the world that Canada is open for business."