ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR -- (Marketwire) -- 09/01/09 -- Energy Ministers from across Canada concluded two days of discussions today in St. John's at their annual conference hosted by the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources for Newfoundland and Labrador. The ministers discussed global economic developments, their impacts on the energy sector and how to best position the country and industry to capitalize on a sustainable economic recovery.

"Our government is committed to generating and increasing the supply of clean and renewable energy in Canada, not only to reduce the country's total greenhouse gas emissions, but also to increase the country's energy security and prosperity," said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "New and innovative technologies and processes will help to make our energy and mining sectors the cleanest and most efficient in the world - and allow Canada to take advantage of the emerging market for these green technologies."

The ministers discussed the important energy policy challenges and opportunities that Canada, the provinces and territories face. They stressed the importance of working together to advance cleaner energy through such efforts as improving energy efficiency, encouraging clean electricity and fostering cleaner fossil fuels and alternatives. Challenges facing the development of northern pipelines and electricity transmission were also discussed.

The ministers also received presentations on emerging technologies and innovation for energy developments.

"It's important that we share information on the research and development being undertaken in our respective areas and any technological advances that will benefit all Canadians," said Minister Dunderdale. "We received presentations on large-scale hydro development, a leading-edge wind-hydrogen-diesel pilot project for isolated diesel communities, and also important updates on groundbreaking work in the areas of bioenergy, renewable energy innovation and sustainable energy development. These substantive efforts in research and development will make it possible to make clean and reliable energy available to all Canadians."

The ministers endorsed new tools and initiatives to help Canadians further improve energy efficiency. Through this type of collaboration, governments will move forward important best practices for energy efficiency that will result in benefits for both the environment and the economy. These include a guide for the trucking industry to improve energy savings through aerodynamic devices; a manual and tool to help industry track and manage its energy use; tools for building recommissioning and the development of an energy benchmarking database for buildings; and, finally, a roadmap for considering energy supply and use at the community level.

Discussions built upon the August 31, 2009, joint session of energy and mines ministers, where they addressed key issues facing both sectors. The ministers highlighted the regulatory review process and agreed to drive action to improve Canada's regulatory system to support the competitiveness and sustained growth of energy and mining sectors. Ministers expressed strong support for a one-project/one-assessment approach for the environmental assessment process. They tasked senior officials to work with their counterparts responsible for environmental assessment and related regulatory approvals on fundamentally improving performance, and report back at EMMC 2010.

Quebec's Associate Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, the Honourable Serge Simard, invited ministers to convene in September 2010 in Quebec City for the 2010 Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference. The World Energy Congress will also be held in September 2010 in Montreal, Quebec.

The following media backgrounder is available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media:

Five New Energy Efficiency Tools and Initiatives

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.