Ontario Joins Canada’s Regional Energy & Resource Tables
On October 25, 2022, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, and Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith announced that Ontario will be the 9th region to join the Regional Energy and Resource Tables.
What are the Regional Tables, and what does that mean for Ontario?
Each of Canada’s provinces and territories has a unique set of natural resources, energy systems, labour markets, and regulatory approaches. The economic opportunities available to each region – and therefore the approaches to net-zero emissions and a nature-positive future – are different and unique across the country.
The Regional Tables are an initiative between provinces and territories and the federal government designed to identify, prioritize and pursue opportunities for sustainable job creation and economic growth for a low-carbon future in the energy, electricity, mining, forestry and clean technology sectors across all of Canada’s regions.
Canada and Ontario have agreed to focus on 5 key priorities:
Ontario’s growing clean and affordable electricity grid
Developing critical mineral value chains
Leadership in nuclear technology deployment
Accelerating clean hydrogen opportunities
Advancing a sustainable and innovative forestry sector
For Ontario, this means supporting the expansion of the province’s clean electricity grid. This expansion will give Ontario an advantage in attracting investment and jobs, supporting the province’s manufacturing base through developing critical minerals needed for electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, advancing new nuclear technology like small modular reactors, and clean hydrogen deployment.
“We are growing Ontario’s world-leading advantage of affordable clean electricity to continue to attract investment and good jobs in our strong manufacturing sector. Ontario is quickly becoming a leader in electric vehicles, battery manufacturing and critical mineral development. The province’s expertise in clean nuclear technology is supporting this success. We look forward to working with our federal partners to help us continue to build Ontario and keep costs down for Ontario families.”
The Honourable Todd Smith, Minister of Energy, Government of Ontario
The Canada-Ontario Regional Table will also be focused on ensuring regulatory requirements for energy and resource projects are implemented effectively and in a timely fashion.
By working with the provinces and territories, we’re building an economy that creates wealth and jobs in every region of this country while ensuring that we achieve our ambitious climate and nature goals.
Further details are available here.
