The Regional Energy and Resource Tables are a collaborative initiative between the federal government and the provinces and territories designed to identify, prioritize and pursue opportunities for sustainable job creation and economic growth in Canada's natural resource sectors as the world transitions to net zero.
The Regional Energy and Resource Tables were launched on June 1, 2022, with the Government of Canada partnering with British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador in Phase 1.
Phase 2 of the Regional Energy and Resource Tables was launched on October 13, with New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.
Progress to date under Regional Energy and Resource Tables Phase 1
Since the launch of Phase 1, the Government of Canada has engaged in regular discussions - at multiple levels - with the participating provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as with Indigenous partners and organizations in those three provinces.
These efforts have led to the identification of a number of shared priorities, the creation of work streams and the first steps toward developing action plans to align resources, timelines and regulatory approaches to seize those opportunities.
The following are snapshots of the early progress made through Phase 1:
British Columbia - Priority areas in discussion include critical minerals, sustainable forestry, clean fuels (including hydrogen), electrification, carbon capture and removal, and collaboration on regulatory processes. Following Minister Wilkinson's speech at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, work on a joint action plan has begun and trilateral Indigenous engagement is being explored along with efforts to coordinate support for opportunities that align with the joint priorities of both B.C. and Canada.
Manitoba - Discussions are underway to identify the top priority areas for the province, which could include critical minerals and clean fuels. As part of those efforts, Minister Wilkinson also visited Winnipeg, where he spoke at the Chamber of Commerce and engaged with some of the province's leading industry representatives. Planning for trilateral Indigenous engagement is being explored and expected to be finalized this fall.
Newfoundland and Labrador - Priority areas in discussion are wind-generated electricity to produce hydrogen and the broader electrification of the economy, as well as critical minerals and carbon capture, utilization and storage. Minister Wilkinson highlighted these opportunities during his July 5 speech to the St. John's Board of Trade. The work of the Regional Tables also aligns well with the visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador in August 2022 to create a transatlantic Canada-Germany supply corridor for Canadian hydrogen exports by 2025. Planning for trilateral engagement with Indigenous partners is being explored and expected to be finalized this fall.
In addition, the federal government and all three provincial governments remain committed to working in close collaboration with relevant experts and key stakeholders such as industry partners and labour representatives.
Roll out of Regional Energy and Resource Tables Phase 2 and Next Steps
In the coming months, officials from the Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments will engage formally to:
enlist the expertise of industry leaders, union partners and workers;
carry out trilateral Indigenous engagement related to regional priorities;
develop regional action plans;
support priority projects and initiatives; and
continuous engagement and revisiting work done to date.
Through the Regional Energy and Resource Tables, the federal government will continue to work with the provinces and territories to grow the economy, create sustainable jobs and lower emissions from coast to coast to coast.
