CALGARY, Nov. 25, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources, today met with Alberta Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd and energy and environmental stakeholders in Calgary to discuss economic and environmental issues affecting the oil and gas sector, including lower oil prices, infrastructure development and access to markets. He outlined the Government's commitments to grow the economy and protect the environment while investing in clean technologies to develop Canada's natural resource sectors and create good jobs for Canadians.

In his meeting with Minister McCuaig-Boyd, Minister Carr also discussed this week's First Ministers' Meeting on climate change, the Government of Alberta's Climate Leadership Plan, the need to establish a Canadian Energy Strategy to protect Canada's energy security, encourage energy conservation and bring cleaner, renewable energy onto the electricity grid, as well as North American energy cooperation.

Minister Carr also delivered his first public address as Canada's Minister of Natural Resources on the occasion of the 2015 Canadian Energy Person of the Year Award ceremony hosted by the Energy Council of Canada. He took the opportunity to congratulate this year's recipient, Michael Cleland, an energy leader throughout his 40-year career in both the public and private sectors.

In his speech, Minister Carr emphasized the importance of working with all levels of government, industry, Indigenous peoples and other stakeholders to ensure our country's natural resources are developed sustainably and help meet our climate change obligations.

Quick Facts

• Natural resources make up about 20 percent of Canada's GDP.
• The oil and gas sector contributes to the strength of Canada's economy, directly and indirectly employing approximately 760,000 people and generating almost 11 percent of Canada's GDP in 2014.
• Canada has a diversity of resources, including conventional resources developed though continuing innovation.
• Canada benefits from one of the cleanest electricity mixes in the world, with the largest percentage of renewable electricity in the G7 and 79 percent generated from non-emitting sources.

Quotes

"Environmental responsibility is now a necessary condition for energy development. Today, I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the energy sector, environmental organizations and the provincial government. I am confident that we can work together to position Canada to prosper by building the sustainable and resilient energy sector of the future."

Jim Carr
Canada's Minister of Natural Resources

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada