An historic Energy Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The MOU is being touted by B.C. Energy Minister Steve Thomson as a way to ensure “Western Canada’s reputation as an energy powerhouse”.
The signing took place on Thursday in Calgary, Alta. between Thomson, Alberta Energy Minister Ron Liepert and Saskatchewan’s Minister of Energy and Resources Bill Boyd.
Thomson says the MOU is building on the New West Partnership – signed in April 2010 – and helping to move the energy industries in the three provinces forward.
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Thomson says the partnership and the MOU will allow the three provinces to co-ordinate efforts and strategies for developing energy technology, infrastructure and the sharing of information. He also says it will help with addressing labour mobility issues across the provinces’ borders.
It is also expected to help the three provinces become more competitive in the energy sector.
Boyd says that oil and gas production across the three provinces accounts for more than 90 per cent of the Canadian total energy production and 99 per cent of coal production.
One issue that was addressed was the fact that the MOU is anticipated to help the provinces market their energy to Asia-Pacific markets. Thomson says B.C. is a key component of that strategy since it has the shipping ports.
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According to Liepert, the idea behind a MOU is its flexibility and it will be able to incorporate changes as they come along.
