Saskatchewan talks about taking a bigger role in Canada’s energy plans

Canada’s provincial and territorial energy and mines ministers wrapped up their annual conference this week in Charlottetown, P.E.I., with a renewed focus on boosting the country’s resource exports and strengthening its position as a global energy leader.

The three-day Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference (EMMC) brought together officials from across the country to discuss the future of energy security, export capacity and competitiveness in the sector. Saskatchewan’s Energy and Resources Minister Colleen Young attended the meetings to promote the provinces interests and highlight the role Saskatchewan can play in global markets.

"With global demand increasing for Saskatchewan's resource commodities, our energy and mining sectors are poised to experience considerable growth in the years ahead," Young said. "But for this potential to become reality, we need to work with our federal and provincial counterparts to grow export access to global markets, streamline more stable and predictable regulatory processes and increase investor confidence in Canada. Saskatchewan is at the table, and ready to play a large role in making Canada the strongest economy in the G7 and a global energy super-power."

Related Stories:

• Expanded incentive targets new mineral discoveries in Saskatchewan

This year’s conference was held under the theme Securing the Future of Canada’s Energy and Mines Sectors. Ministers spoke about the need to speed up major resource projects, including uranium mines, and emphasized the importance of reducing the country’s reliance on the United States and other foreign markets.

Calls for more efficient federal regulatory processes and greater recognition of provincial authority were key topics of discussion, as ministers looked for ways to boost investor confidence and keep projects moving. Among the ideas on the table were new pipelines, expanded rail capacity, electricity transmission lines, trade and energy corridors, port infrastructure and a faster nuclear licensing process.

Young said she used the meetings to press for more investment in western and northern economic corridors, coastal ports and pipelines, noting that better pipeline and rail connections are essential for getting Western Canadian products to international buyers.

Energy and mines ministers plan to meet again in fall 2025 to review progress on priority projects discussed this week.