The premiers and ministers of Canada’s two most populous provinces Ontario and Quebec sat down for a joint meeting in Toronto on Friday (November 21), the first such meeting since 2010. Ontario’s premier Kathleen Wynne and Quebec premier Philippe Couillard signed a joint statement to work together to share electricity and to advance their climate change agendas.
The statement makes a direct reference to controversial pipeline projects planned to carry Alberta oil through Ontario and Quebec.
“We believe that from the centre of the country we are giving Canadians the leadership that is much needed,” said Premier Wynne.
The day before Quebec had issued seven conditions for TransCanada Corp.’s $12-billion Energy East pipeline, including a demand for a provincial environmental review.
As for the electricity agreement, the Seasonal Capacity Exchange — the first agreement of its kind between the two provinces — takes advantage of the fact that electricity demand peaks in the winter in Québec and in the summer in Ontario.
And the two provinces are calling on the federal government to provide additional infrastructure funding through an unconditional block transfer that grows with the needs of the economy.
More information:
Ontario Government press release – Agreements Reached at Québec-Ontario Joint Meeting of Cabinet Ministers – here
CBC News – Ontario, Quebec sign deals on electricity, climate change – here
Toronto Star – Ontario, Quebec jointly flex political muscle at Toronto meeting of ministers – here
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