Canadian Energy Strategy: an agreement in July?

A Canadian Energy Strategy is in the works, negotiated by the premiers of the 13 provinces and territories, according to unnamed sources.  There is talk of a deal by July, but Professor Nelson Wiseman, Director of the Canadian Studies program in the Political Science Department at the University of Toronto, thinks the conversations on a strategy will just continue:

The aim of the CES is to bring together provinces such as oil-rich Alberta, which wants approval for pipelines across the country, with provinces such as Ontario and Quebec that are demanding commitments on emission reductions.

The energy landscape has changed radically over the last year with the plummeting price of oil, rendering the powerhouse province of Alberta, looking at deficits and budget cuts for the first time in years.

But public resistance to pipelines has waned in Canada in the wake of yet another rail disaster in Northern Ontario. On March 7th, a CN train, 30 to 40 cars in length, derailed with several oil tankers catching fire.  It was the third CN oil train derailment in northern Ontario in less than a month, and the second in the same area.

Residents of nearby Gogoma and the Mattagami First Nation were unable to drink the water from their community source and initially asked to stay inside due to possible smoke inhalation.  It was the third CN oil train derailment in northern Ontario in less than a month — and the second in the same area.

CN has now implemented a reduced speed limit through the region for the next two months for trains carrying more than 20 cars of flammable liquid.

The province of Quebec, the last province to join the talks last year, was also the site of the worst rail disaster at Lac Megantic in July 2013. A runaway train of 74 cars of Bakken formation crude oil exploded in the centre of town killing 47 people.

Quebec is pressing for increased action on climate change.  “It’s clear that sub-national states are playing a bigger rolde in the fight against climate change” said the province’s Environment Minister David Heurtel, in an interview. Next month Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard will host a summit on the issues.

It is believed the provinces and territories will sign a deal in advance of the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris in December.